Thunder Bay, ON - It is a human right for all women to live in a world without fear and violence. To ensure a level playing field, gender equity needs to be recognized as a cornerstone of all human rights.
Today, December 10th, is the United Nations Human Rights Day. It marks the last day of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” #orangetheworld campaign. Violence comes in many forms - physical, psychological, and sexual – and the importance of this issue does not end today; Indigenous women face violence 365 days a year.
The root causes of violence against Indigenous women is embedded in colonialism; when we talk about colonialism and the Indian Act, we talk about the destabilization of families, culture, community, and the role of Indigenous women. The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) recognizes the importance of continuing to support women to take up their leadership roles in the family and in the community. This will further solidify the right of Indigenous women to speak on their own behalf, to develop services that meet their needs, and to choose who represents them.
Human rights are the values that we place on the world, which will be reflected in the smiles of our children seven generations from now. As the mothers of those children, gender equity in a respectful world is now, more than ever, a human right that all women should demand.
For more information, please contact:
Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
Phone: (647) 970-7661