NDP Statement on National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Awareness Day

NDP Leader, Jagmeet Singh, issued the following statement:

"Today, we remember and honor all of the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people who have been stolen. But we know that it is not enough to recognize that gendered-systemic discrimination and violence continue across our country, we must recommit to taking concrete steps to stop the genocide.

Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people's human rights have not been upheld and this is costing lives. Six in ten Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual abuse and Indigenous women are at least 4.5 times more likely to be murdered than non-indigenous women.

Every day that the government fails to take meaningful action is another day that Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people continue to experience disproportionate rates of violence.

The government has had the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls for years but they continue to fail to take the steps needed to end the violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The Liberal government has acknowledged this crisis is a genocide, but their inaction speaks much louder than their words. Their failure to implement the Calls for Justice or make the necessary investments in affordable housing, health care services and infrastructure in Indigenous communities are political choices with devastating consequences for Indigenous people, their families and communities.

Families and survivors have waited long enough; they need the government to act now.

Today, New Democrats are again urging the government to implement all 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous women. Doing this will save lives.

To the Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people: we see you. You deserve to live with respect, dignity and safety. New Democrats will always work in partnership with Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, the families of the missing and murdered, and your communities to lift you up and we’ll never stop working to stop the violence you have had to endure. This includes supporting a national action plan that addresses violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people so that those fleeing violence have access to culturally appropriate programming, emergency shelters and transitional housing."