CASW Applauds Premiers’ Support for National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Aboriginal women

For Immediate Release
July 25, 2013

The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) applauds the Premiers of Canada’s provinces and territories for committing their support for a national inquiry into murdered and missing Aboriginal women.

“The epidemic of violence against Aboriginal women and girls in Canada must be addressed if our nation is to achieve the promise of equality of opportunity enshrined in our constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms” states CASW President, Morel Caissie. 

Aboriginal women and girls are the most vulnerable population of Canadian society as evidenced by the over 582 occurrences of missing or murdered Aboriginal women and girls documented by the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC). At present, the Parliament of Canada has established a Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women however its mandate lacks direction and would not have the force or function of a national inquiry.

“Successive federal governments have obfuscated responsibility to directly address the glaring systemic violence against Aboriginal women and girls, this must change” states Caissie. 

CASW encourages social workers and all Canadians to express your support for a national inquiry into murdered and missing Aboriginal women by signing the NWAC Petition and directly contacting your Member of Parliament.

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For more information:
Fred Phelps, MSW, RSW
Executive Director
casw@casw-acts.ca
Tel.: 613.729.6668