United Church Says National Inquiry Needed

TORONTO, June 17, 2013 /CNW/ - The United Church of Canada has added its voice to the call by the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) for the Canadian government to convene as soon as possible a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls in Canada.

NWAC says that nearly 600 missing or murdered Aboriginal women and girls have been documented in Canada, and that number is increasing.

In her letter to Prime Minister Harper, Nora Sanders, the church's General Secretary of the General Council wrote,

"Clearly our justice and social systems are not offering adequate protection against violence for Indigenous women in this country. We take very seriously the deadly violence to which these women and girls have been subjected, and believe that Indigenous women and girls deserve to be safe, as do all Canadians. This tragedy must be addressed as a step towards returning to healthy and thriving Aboriginal families, communities and nations in Canada."

The church's Call to Action is encouraging its membership to sign the NWAC petition for a national inquiry, and to write to their respective municipal, provincial, and federal representatives, with a copy to the Prime Minister.

The United Church is also supporting the NWAC and AFN assertion that Aboriginal women must have a leading role in the design, decision-making, process, and implementation of this inquiry.

To find out more go to:
http://www.united-church.ca/getinvolved/takeaction/130612

SOURCE: United Church of Canada

Mary-Frances Denis
The United Church of Canada
Tel: [phone] ext. 2016
Cell: 416-400-7273
[email protected]