FEWO Committee Report
If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.
|
NDP Dissenting Opinion FEWO Study on Promising Practices to End Violence Against Women May 2015 INTRODUCTION New Democrats believe immediate action is required to address the high levels of violence against women in Canada. Unfortunately, the report from the Standing Committee on the Status of Women: “Promising Practices to Prevent Violence Against Women” leaves out crucial testimony and recommendations heard throughout the committee hearings. While other levels of violence have decreased in Canada, levels of violence against women remain high. New Democrats are appalled at the Conservative government's refusal to acknowledge the problem of violence against women in Canada. The government has been steadfast in its refusal to work with the opposition, experts, organizations or individuals, many of whom came to the committee during the course of this study. While New Democrat members of the committee recognize the importance of applauding, supporting and encouraging promising practices to fight violence against women, we must first and foremost call attention to the fact that there remain systemic causes of violence. These barriers restrict women's access to choice and to opportunities widening the gender gap. New Democrats recognize that the causes of violence are complex and that the solution must be comprehensive. Many witnesses pointed out that piecemeal policy does not work, and sometimes makes the situation worse. Further, while we welcomed the chance to participate in the study, New Democrats feel the resulting report is not entirely representative of the testimony. The testimony frequently included calls for a National Action Plan and an inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, but these two pieces are absent from the official report. New Democrats are dismayed that the report was not a synthesis of the evidence or representative of the recommendations heard by the committee during the study. NATIONAL ACTION PLAN A great number of witnesses called for a National Action Plan on violence against women in Canada. Such an action plan would address gaps in services and the legal system, coordinate policies and services across jurisdictions, and improve collaboration among all levels of government, civil society, survivors of violence, and first responders.[1] In addition, witnesses called on the government to commit adequate human and financial resources to specifically carry out a national action plan.[2] The action plan, according to several witnesses, should include commitments and clear targets, an outline of effective prevention mechanisms, a guarantee of universal coverage of response mechanisms for survivors, a review of law enforcement and justice practices, support for reliable data collection, and necessary human and financial resources to support these measures.[3] Ms Lana Wells, the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary, suggested that the action plan focus on four main areas: prevention mechanisms, social policy responses, legal responses and service responses.[4] Ms. Wells also stated that the action plan must be customized to meet the unique risk factors of specific populations, such as Aboriginal women and refugee women.[5] The Committee heard that the action plan should involve consultation with all stakeholders, such as front-line workers and violence survivors, non-governmental and community organizations, as well as men and allies.[6] Witnesses were clear that the National Action Plan should bea comprehensive and integrated action plan, with effective legislation and regulation, safe and effective reporting for women and girls, evidence-based policy formation on a foundation of statistical evidence, well-supported and well-trained personnel, partnerships across government and local groups, across school boards, police commissions, policing, and police officers, as well as shelters and the experts who are legion across this country[7]. - Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women By refusing to hold a national inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls, in spite of recommendations from the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, all the Premiers of Canada, international bodies and other experts, the government is telling indigenous women and girls that their lives don't matter. NDP members heard from Claudette Dumont-Smith, from the Native Women’s Association of Canada, that “indigenous women and girls are five times more likely to experience violence than any other population in Canada. Often the violence goes unreported, in particular, spousal assault and other family-related abuse. The actual rates are likely higher… The AFN, NWAC, first nations and indigenous women's organizations, and families of murdered and missing indigenous women have long been advocating for a national public inquiry on violence against indigenous women and girls, including the circumstances around those who have been murdered or are missing. We need a national public inquiry to examine this issue from all angles and develop solutions to address this in a comprehensive manner. Nothing else will do.”[8] Leah Gazan presented very strong testimony, reminding the committee that Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the former UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights, James Anaya, have condemned the Canadian government's inaction on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and have “all called for the need for a national inquiry and immediate action to address the crisis levels of violence perpetrated against indigenous women and girls.” “We represent 4.3% of the Canadian population, yet we represent 16% of all reported homicides. It is not safe to be an indigenous woman or girl in Canada right now. This is related to a number of factors, including high rates of poverty—more characteristic among indigenous women—and issues with the very systems that are supposed to uphold the safety of Canadian citizens. – continued Ms. Gazan, further noting that the 2014 RCMP National Operational Report on Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women concluded that there was an overrepresentation of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls, which exceeded the RCMP's previous estimates. FUNDING New Democrat members of the committee noted that many witnesses criticized the lack of stable, consistent funding from Status of Women Canada for initiatives to fight violence against women. As one witness said: “At the end of two years, it will finish and that will be the end of the project. It's just the way that the funding works. It's impossible to go after the same funding for the same project.” - Gerry Mills 2015-02-05 Jane Doe added: “Until we examine the multiple and systemic nature of sexual assault, until we spend the money and take the time to do that, the social band-aids that we've been applying will continue to fall off and will result in more crime.” - Jane Doe 2015-02-03 CHILDCARE Many witnesses pointed to the need for a national child care strategy as one of the things the federal government could do to address violence against women. Witnesses said the federal government should invest in a national child care strategy, one that is based on the principles of affordability, accessibility and high-quality care and that this national strategy would support healthy child development and improve opportunities for women who wish to go back to the workforce, or get out of unhealthy or abusive relationships. [9] According to Ann Decter from YWCA Canada, “research on Quebec's low-cost, broad-based child care system confirms that child care dramatically increases single mothers' access to employment. Based on the Quebec experience, it is hard to overstate the positive impact of widespread access to low-cost child care on women raising children on their own.”[10] WOMEN’S ECONOMIC SECURITY NDP members of the committee feel that it is ineffective to address the issue of violence against women without addressing gender inequality, specifically economic inequality. As one witness said: “We need the government at all levels in Canada to take a stand and say, “Not on our watch. On our watch we have a zero tolerance to men's violence against women. We need to name the problem and understand its source. The source is patriarchy and women's inequality, and we need to set our minds to achieving women's full equality in society. We also need action. We need an investment in violence prevention, and public education and awareness programs, starting in the very early years in school.” [11] CONCLUSION New Democrat members of the committee appreciated that many witnesses, of all backgrounds and areas of expertise, spoke to the need to meaningfully consult and engage with communities, experts, and survivors. Many felt that current federal policies marginalize women, and target them and their communities. New Democrats believe that the federal government has a key role to play in addressing and preventing violence against women and all forms of gender-based oppression. This is beautifully put by Deepa Mattoo in her testimony: “I think that's my recommendation, to please treat women in their full capacity, because we are doing a disservice to our own country if we do not take them as who they are and do not take them as our leaders.” - Deepa Mattoo 2015-02-05 12:10 NEW DEMOCRATS THEREFORE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING RECCOMENDATIONS:
[1] Evidence, 2 December 2014, 0930 (Ms. Carmela Hutchinson, President, DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada); Evidence, 27 November 2014, 0905 (Ms. Ann Decter, Director, Advocacy and Public Policy, YWCA Canada); Evidence, 2 December 2014, 0905 (Ms. Alia Hogben, Executive Director, Canadian Council of Muslim Women); Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0900 (Ms. Lise Martin, Executive Director, Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses); Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0910 (Ms. Sharlene Tygesen, Executive Director, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter); Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0920 (Ms. Lynn Ward, Executive Director, Armagh House); Evidence, 3 February 2015, 1110 (Ms. Rosemary McCarney, President and Chief Executive Officer, Plan International Canada Inc.); Evidence, 5 February 2015, 1105 (Ms. Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary); Evidence, 5 February 2015, 1130 (Ms. Deepa Mattoo, Staff Lawyer, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario). [2] Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0910 (Ms. Sharlene Tygesen, Executive Director, Ernestine's Women's Shelter). [3] Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0905 (Ms. Lise Martin, Executive Director, Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses); Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0910 (Ms. Sharlene Tygesen, Executive Director, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter). [4] Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0945 (Ms. Lise Martin, Executive Director, Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses). [5] Evidence, 5 February 2015, 1105 (Ms. Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary). [6] Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0905 (Ms. Lise Martin, Executive Director, Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses); Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0910 (Ms. Sharlene Tygesen, Executive Director, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter); Evidence, 4 December 2014, 0920 (Ms. Lynn Ward, Executive Director, Armagh House); Evidence, 5 February 2015, 1105 (Ms. Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary). [7] Evidence, 3 February, 2015, (Rosemary McCarney, President and Chief Executive Officer at Plan International Canada Inc) [8] Evidence, 5 February, Claudette Dumont-Smith, Executive Director of the Native Women's Association of Canada [9] Evidence, 5 February 2015, Ms. Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary) [10] Evidence, 27 November, 2014 (Ms Ann Decter, Director, Advocacy and Public Policy, YWCA Canada [11] Evidence, 19 February 2015 (Ms. Megan Walker, Executive Director, London Abused Women’s Centre)
|