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Canada launches national investigation into missing, murdered indigenous females

Xinhua, December 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Canada's new Liberal government Tuesday announced a national investigation into the vast number of missing and murdered indigenous females.

"I am pleased to announce that the government of Canada is launching its first phase of the inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women and girls," Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said at a news conference here.

Wilson-Raybould said the families in the National Capital Region will first be met for their views on the design and the goal of the inquiry.

Over the next two months, more families, other indigenous peoples, national aboriginal organizations and a range of front-line services workers and others will be asked to contribute to the probe, added Wilson-Raybould, Canada's first indigenous justice minister.

"Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls represent a heartbreaking national tragedy that must be addressed immediately," said Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett.

"We recognize that a number of factors, like racism, marginalization, sexism, and poverty have contributed to the ongoing tragedy of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls," said Minister of Status of Women Patty Hajdu.

At the end of this meeting process, the government will report back on what has been heard from the participants, whose views and ideas will allow the government to develop the inquiry, including the mandate, the terms of reference, the format of the inquiry, and the timeline.

Indigenous women and girls in Canada experience higher rates of violence than non-indigenous women in the country.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found in 2014 nearly 1,200 documented cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls between 1980 and 2012, a number the RCMP said exceeded previous public estimates.

A 2015 United Nations report found that young First Nations, Metis and Inuit women in Canada were five times more likely to die under violent circumstances than their non-aboriginal counterparts. Endi