CEDAW/C/CAN/CO/8-9
mechanism for the independent review of alleged cases of inadequate or partial police
investigations;
(d)
The lack of an explicit assurance of adequate support and protection
provided to witnesses, and the lack of sufficient cooperation with indigenous women’s
organizations in the process of establishing the inquiry.
27.
The Committee recommends that the State party fully implement, without
delay, all recommendations issued by the Committee in the 2015 report on its
Canada inquiry (CEDAW/C/OP.8/CAN/1, paras. 216-220), and:
(a)
Develop an coordinated plan for the overseeing of the implementation
of the outstanding 37 recommendations issued by the Committee in its report
(CEDAW/C/OP.8/CAN/1, paras. 216-220), and by working in cooperation, as
appropriate, with the Commission of the national inquiry, as well as indigenous
women and their organizations, women's human rights organizations, and
provincial and territorial governments;
(b)
Ensure that all cases of missing and murdered indigenous women are
duly investigated and prosecuted;
(c)
Complement the Terms of Reference of the national inquiry to:
(i)
Ensure the use of a human rights based approach ;
(ii)
Ensure that the mandate of the inquiry clearly covers the
investigation of the role of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,
Provincial police, Municipal police, and public complaints
commissions across federal, provincial, and municipal jurisdictions;
(iii) Establish a mechanism for the independent review of cases
where there are allegations of inadequate or partial police
investigations;
(d)
Ensure adequate support and protection to witnesses and strengthen
the inclusive partnership with indigenous women’s organizations and national and
international human rights institutions and bodies during the conducting of the
inquiry and in its implementation process.
Root causes of violence and discrimination against indigenous women
28.
The Committee is concerned about the fact that indigenous women continue to
suffer from multiple forms of discrimination, particularly as regards their access to
employment, housing, education and health care and continue to live in poverty in the
State party, as reflected by high poverty rates, poor health, inadequate housing, lack of
access to safe water, low school-completion rates. It further notes with concern the low
participation of indigenous women in the labour market, in particular in senior or
decision-making positions, their disproportionately high unemployment rates and their
lower pay compared with men and non-indigenous women. The Committee notes the
State party’s commitment to fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007). However, it remains concerned about the lack of a
coherent plan or strategy to improve the socioeconomic conditions of indigenous
communities, in particular indigenous women to combat the root cause of their
vulnerability to violence as well as the lack of measures to break the circle of distrust
between the authorities and indigenous communities, as was established by the
Committee’s inquiry (CEDAW/C/OP.8/CAN/1, paras. 218-219).
29.
The Committee recommends that the State party, in consultation with
indigenous peoples:
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