Canada's NDP

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November 25th, 2016

Statement on International Day to End Violence Against Women

NDP Critic for the Status of Women, Sheila Malcolmson (Nanaimo-Ladysmith), made the following statement on the United Nations International Day to End Violence Against Women :

“On any given night in Canada, more than 350 women and children fleeing violence are turned away from help. Domestic violence shelters are underfunded and already bursting at the seams, leaving women with nowhere to go. This is unacceptable in a country like Canada.

We must never make excuses or look the other way, because that has devastating effects on survivors. We all must reject the quiet tolerance of violence against women and loudly condemn sexual and gender-based violence. We must stand with women who are especially vulnerable to sexual violence against. Women with disabilities and indigenous women, for example, are three times more likely to face violence than other women in Canada.

New Democrats will continue to press the Liberal government to turn its feminist good intentions into feminist action. Canada must take concrete action to eradicate violence against women, including implementing a National Action Plan, to ensure much needed services are available nation-wide. Additionally the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women must leave no stone unturned and it must reflect the needs of families who are still traumatized by their loss.

Our ultimate goal is the eradication of violence against women – and we will not stop until the job is done.”