CEDAW in Canada

In November 2008, the CEDAW committee called on Canada to report its progress made to implement the recommendation to “examine the reasons for the failure to investigate the cases of missing or murdered aboriginal women and to take the necessary steps to remedy the deficiencies in the system" (p. 3). Amnesty International released this report in 2009.

Almost a year later, there has been little progress made. The situation in Canada involving Aboriginal or native women is seriously worse than that of other women in Canada."In a 2004 survey, Aboriginal women reported rates of violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault, 3.5 times higher than non-Aboriginal women" (p.4). In addition to physical violence, there have been cases of missing persons and discrimination. "The Native Women’s Association of Canada has compiled data on more than 520 Indigenous women who have gone missing or been murdered in the last three decades" (p. 4).

There are problems with the police forces in Canada and the way power is distributed in these offices. For instance, local police forces are having problems implementing the CEDAW recommendations because they are not receiving instructions from the higher offices. The police officers are not being adequately trained to deal specifically with cases involving Aboriginal women, and they are therefore not being reported or properly handled.

There is also an economic barrier between indigenous women and non-indigenous women, who, on average, earn about thirty percent more (p. 4-5). The lower economic status of the indigenous populations leads to more instances of violence. There are also very few domestic violence shelters in indigenous communities that could help women escape violence.

"A plan of action must include measures to ensure appropriate police response as well as measures to reduce the gap in standard of living and access to services for Indigenous women" (p.7). Some of the detailed recommendations that the committee has made to the Canadian government include, more comprehensive police reports on Aboriginal victims of abduction, violence or murder and more readily available services for Aboriginal women who are victims of violence. The gap in funding for Aboriginal programs, especially for children, should be eliminated as well as the gap in the quality of housing, education and health care.

Hopefully Canada will consider the recommendations made by the Committee. This report shows that even in countries that seem like all women are equal and in countries that seem like CEDAW is an irrelevant document, that there are still improvements and progress that can be made.
Post by Meghan.

"Canada: Follow Up to the Concluding Observations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women." Amnesty International, 2009. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/ngos/AI_CanadaFU.pdf>.