Healing Gaia

Harper Government Rejects National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women

When casting your vote this October, choose a candidate who supports a violence-free life for all Canadians.

By Doreen Nicoll
Published July 03, 2015

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women presented its report, entitled Promising Practices to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls in the House of Commons in June 2015. The Committee heard testimony from 48 witnesses including 38 organizations and four individuals. The report contained 11 recommendations for the Government of Canada to implement in order to effectively address violence against women and girls.

Following is some information from the report that provides a perspective of violence against women and girls.

According to Statistics Canada, rates of violent crime are similar for girls and boys younger than 12 years of age. In 2011, 8,200 girls were the victims of violent crimes. In 2013, almost half of the violent crimes committed against young girls were sexual in nature. Most of these assaults were perpetrated by a family member.

Girls 12 to 17 years of age are more likely to experience violence at the hands of peers or dating partners. In 2011, 27,000 young women were victims of violent crimes. Girls this age were eight times more likely than boys to experience sexual assault or other sexual crimes.

Women between the ages of 15 to 24 experience the highest rates of violence. Women 18 years of age and older experience violent crimes of a sexual nature at a rate of 7 percent.

Violence against women is an under-reported crime. Only 30 percent of women experiencing spousal violence report to police. Aboriginal women are close to three times more likely to have experienced intimate partner violence than non-Aboriginal women. In 2009, 15 percent of Aboriginal women reported experiencing spousal abuse compared to 6 percent of non-Aboriginal women.

Every six days a woman is killed by her intimate partner. The RCMP found that 92 percent of murders of non-Aboriginal women and 93 percent of murders of Aboriginal women are committed by intimate partners or spouses, family members or acquaintances. In cases where partners have committed the murder, 25 percent of the women had left the relationship.

Victims of non-spousal violence report 28 percent of incidents. Only 10 percent of sexual assaults are routinely reported to police. In 87 percent of sexual assaults, women are the victims and men are the perpetrators 97 percent of the time.

Canadian women and men experience similar rates of violence including spousal violence. However, the violence women experience is generally more severe and they are seven times more likely to fear for their lives.

Women experience sexual offences at rates ten times greater than men. Women are victims of criminal harassment at rates three times greater than men. Eight in ten women experience violence at the hands of men - mainly men they know.

Young women; Aboriginal women; visible minorities; women with disabilities; immigrant, refugee and temporary workers; as well as sex workers are all at greater risk of sexual assault.

Gender inequality remains the root cause of violence against women. The power imbalance between men and women is perpetuated by specific cultural, religious and social norms.

While 96 percent of Canadian boys surveyed by Plan International Canada stated that they believe in gender equality, there is often a disconnect between what boys observe, experience, learn and internalize.

The way boys and young men are socialized can normalize the idea that violence against women is acceptable even if the men perpetrating these crimes are the minority.

The Committee had 11 recommendations for the federal government to implement in order to prevent violence against women and girls. The recommendations were:

  1. The government work with organizations to utilize proven best practices to prevent violence against women and girls.

  2. That Status of Women Canada ensure that preventing violence against women and girls continues to be a priority.

  3. That the Government of Canada act on the policies and programs in place that are centred on prevention and education in efforts to prevent violence against women and girls, emphasizing best practices.

  4. That the government of Canada continue to fund projects through Status of Women Canada in efforts to prevent violence against women and girls.

  5. That the Minister of Status of Women work toward putting the issue of sexual violence and assault on the next federal/provincial/territorial meeting agenda.

  6. The Government of Canada continue to support efforts to engage men and boys in preventing violence against women and girls.

  7. The Government of Canada continue to support and focus on maternal, newborn and child health through engagement of stakeholders.

  8. The Status of Women Canada continue its practice of issuing Calls for Proposals on preventing violence against women and girls, with a focus on Aboriginal women.

  9. The Government of Canada continue to support the implementation of the Action Plan to Address Family Violence and Violent Crime Against Aboriginal Women and Girls.

  10. The Government of Canada continue to invest in economic development ventures that nurture the safety and economic well-being of women and girls on and off reserve.

  11. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada provide newcomer women with information about settlement services, crisis resources and their rights under Canadian law, through publications such as Discover Canada, Welcome to Canada, as well as the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

A number of witnesses that appeared before Committee called for a National Action Plan on violence against women and girls in Canada.

Ironically, on May 27, 2015 the Conservative Stephen Harper Government voted down MP Niki Ashton's motion, M-444, A National Action Plan to End Violence against Women. Yukon MP Ryan Leef was the lone Conservative to vote in support of the motion.

Motion 444 succinctly summed up the steps needed to end gendered violence in Canada:

That, in the opinion of the House, the government should develop, in collaboration with the provinces, territories, civil society and First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples and their representatives, a coordinated National Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women which would include: (a) initiatives to address socio-economic factors contributing to violence against women; (b) policies to prevent violence against women and policies to respond to survivors of violence; (c) benchmarks for measuring progress based on the collection of data on levels of violence against women over time; (d) independent research on emerging issues that relate to violence against women; (e) a national public inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls; (f) strategies that address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of different communities including specific attention to Aboriginal women, women with disabilities, women from minority groups and young women; (g) participation by community and other civil society organizations, including support for those organizations to participate in the implementation of the national action plan; and (h) human and financial resources earmarked specifically to carry out the program of action set by the plan.

While Ashton's motion embodied the recommendations found in the Committee's Promising Practices to Prevent Violence Against women and Girls, it was resoundingly rejected by the Harper Government.

The New Democrats have subsequently proposed four recommendations in response to the Status of Women's Committee's recommendations:

Harper voted against ending violence for Canadian women and girls. When casting your vote this October, choose a candidate who supports a violence-free life for all Canadians.

Doreen Nicoll is a feminist and a member of several community organizations working diligently to end poverty, hunger and gendered violence.

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By DEHSmith (registered) | Posted July 03, 2015 at 17:13:36

Truth & Reconciliation between: Native & NON Native Canadians AND the Government of Canada, corporate Canada', et al.

‘YOU’ Committed, &/or, Enabled Secret 'Cultural Genocide' Against Aboriginal Canadians’, or, Was it Corporate Canada’s (The Canadian Establishment’s) Secret 'Cultural Genocide' Committed Against Aboriginal Canadians’?

What are the various different ways that All Canadians can prevent Secrecy whether it be Human Rights Abuses like The Residential Schools, or, Civil Rights Abuses like the ‘foreign’, /or, ‘domestic’ treaties?

Quis custodiet ipsos custodies? (Who Will Guard the Guards?) The Redesigned & Elected Senate?

Pope Francis May have ‘Difficulty Apologizing to the PM Harper for Residential Schools’ Abuses while PM Continues to Blame & Punish Those Who He Has Been Deliberately Deprived of the Info including the EU? Other Religious Leaders may have similar Difficulties.

Designer ‘Racism’; Do the Feds Thrive on Continuing to Make Secret Deals with Native & non Native groups in order to Play Both Sides Off of Each Other?

Do the Global Corporate Leaders really want to Sign Treaties/'Arrangements' (CETA, TPP, C-CIT/FIPA, et al) with Corporate Canada’s Pariah Prime Minister & Pay for The WAD Accord's Compensations, etc?

At the time of The Residential Schools abuses & ‘Cultural Genocide’, was the Secrecy surrounding it more, or, less than the secrecy that is now surrounding the TPP & the flurry of Global Treaties/'Arrangements'; Corporate Canada, The Canadian Establishment & their Media Still Resolute & Without any Remorse?

The Basis for Legislation that Protects All Canadians from the Canadian Establishment, its Secrecy (Treaties/’Arrangements) & Continuing to Play the Most Vulnerable Native Community members off of the Most Vulnerable non Native Community members; Designer ‘Racism’. Private Citizens’ Bills to Off-Set Secretive Sinecure Senate. (CAN) At the risk of annoying Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin & the Justices of The Supreme Court of Canada while they consider the merits of: ‘The Submission’ to The SUPREME COURT of CANADA: ‘The SHAREHOLDERS & Corporations of AMERICA, Japan, the EU, Canada, the Trans Pacific nations, et al v. the harmless Canadian NON shareholders, both; Native & non Native, et al’ (see; davidehsmith.wo¬rdpress.com) including 'The MERKEL (Chancellor of Germany) Letter; To Sue, or, Be Sued?' (see; davidehsmith.wo¬rdpress.com),

would it be more accurate if the Chief Justice said that it was corporate Canada & its associated religious & governmental leaders that attempted 'cultural genocide' on Aboriginal Canadians as opposed to saying the vague remark that is was ‘Canada’ that attempted the aforementioned 'cultural genocide'? And, what other nations are, &/or, can be, implicated as a consequence of being co-signatories to the recent flurry of Global Treaties/'Arrangements' with Canada?


Prime Minister Harper; 'Blaming & Punishing Those Who Have Been Deliberately Deprived of the Info’; ‘Inquiry’ Settlements Protect Gratified Rapists, Pedophiles, et al; Courts Only Forum for Justices, Guilt & Reconciliation.

RECONCILIATION between: Native & NON Native Canadians AND the Government of Canada & corporate Canada'. Excerpts are from "TOWARDS A MORE INFORMED OPINION regarding the Environmental Impact& Context of the Enbridge's Northern Gateway (Pipeline) Project (NGP), et al" by DEHS. (Last Edited; Nov., 2014) "It is also in the spirit of reconciliation between the most vulnerable Native & non-Native Canadians, et al, that ...it seems that most Canadians are insulted for being blamed for PM Harper deliberately depriving non-Native Canadians, & the world court of public opinion...of the information...& then have the "bright idea" of blaming the good people of Alberta, et al, who have been deprived of the information...Therefore, once again the governments are covering for those who need to continue to benefit from the deprivation of the information. And, this time Canadians are being deprived of the information embodied in the comprehensive version of The WAD Accord, etc., at the peril of the most vulnerable Canadians; the info deprivation is continuing to cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

I would also like to thank those members of First Nations communities, et al, who are trying to help make non-Native Canadians, et al, aware of the problems created by the lobbying process, particularly, at the level of the federal government that has resulted in the present "diasporas'" fear regarding their suggesting alternatives, improvements, etc., to the Aboriginal political process...

And, in the spirit of the reconciliation of the First Nation in Canada & the people of Canada, I think that it is a very appropriate place to apologize on behalf of: 1) the (individuals &) group of Canadians that were, amongst other things, sexually "satisfied", &/or, gratified, et al, by their abuses in The Residential Schools that caused the compensation, et al, whether the abuse was; a) sexual, b) physical, c) psychological, d) racial, e) cultural, f) religious, et al, & /or, g) et al, 2) the Canadians that, not only caused the environment that permitted the abuses, but, also deprived the Canadian public & the world of the information about the abuses for so long, including; a) the executives of the relevant political parties of Canada, b) the relevant lobbyists, if any, & c) their political representatives sitting in the Parliament of Canada, for continuing in their attempts to off-load their responsibility & their guilt on to the information deprived public.

Is it regrettable, or, convenient that the Canadian inquiry looking into the Residential Schools abuses deprived the public of the large amount of information that could have been elucidated by plea bargaining defendants in any adversarial, criminal prosecutions? Furthermore, this protection afforded by inquiries, in general, as opposed to criminal prosecutions, provides a great deal of succour for those who are the direct beneficiaries of the information deprivation as it enables the "deprivers" to continue to assist their global associates in their associates' quest to acquire, manage, control & transport the natural resources that are continuing to be found in Canada...”


For the FULL ARTICLE, see; Google: PART 4 - ENBRIDGE'S NGP; ‘TOWARDS A MORE INFORMED OPINION...; Enbridge's Northern Gateway (Pipeline) Project... by David E.H. Smith, or, see; davidehsmith.wordpress.com


Also see; Google; ‘HELP IS ON THE WAY? U.N. Mr. Anaya, et al; 'IGNORAMUS et IGNORABIMUS'.


For the FULL 'Submission' to the Supreme Court of Canada, see; The Supreme Court of Canada


For more Information & Questions re; The Relationship between Human (Nature) Rights & Economics by way of the TTIP, the CET Agreement, TPP, C-CI Treaty, et al, and The WAD Accord & List of RECENT ARTICLES, LETTERS& NOTIFICATIONS by DEHS, see; davidehsmith.wordpress.com


Please consider sharing the enclosed information & questions with 10 friends who will share it with 10 others...

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By DEHSmith (registered) | Posted July 04, 2015 at 04:22:10

More POLITICAL INTERFERENCE of RCMP Investigations 'kills' Female Aboriginal Advocates, RCMP officers' morale & DE-RAILS & Controls 'INQUIRIES'/Commissions.

Native Women, et al, Expectations of Freedom from Fear of Retribution in Due Diligence Info SHARING & Consultations; Deliberate,'Illegal', &/or, Unethical DEPRIVATION of INFO Re; 'Domestic' & Foreign Treaties Basis for Suing Corp.Can. & its Global Assocs. Corporate Assocs. to Sue Corp.Can. for Fraud While Reopening Both Treaties to Guarantee Provisions of The WAD Accord & Transparent Negotiations to Access Natural Resources?

Do Native Women, et al, Have the Right to Freedom of Fear of Retribution; "DISAPPEARED" & "SUICIDE-D" Activists along "DEATH-POTS" Highway (#16)?

HUMAN NATURE; How Cultures & Traditions can be used to explain Corruption, Info Deprivation & Bullying to Protect the Power of 'Death-Pots'.

Does CORPORATE CANADA Prefer Limelight on 'Race' not Shareholders' Dividends versus harmless NON shareholders, both; Native & non Native? CorpCan's 'FOREIGN' ASSOCIATES, TERRIFIED if Native Male Political Leaders Implicated in 'Disappearing' Native Women's Advocates.

After reading about the fears of retaliation of the Native Canadian women at the Special House of Commons Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women, by powerful chiefs & councils for questioning & improving the chiefs/councils plans & decisions, etc., it has been suggested that it might be easier to minimize any potential for negative 'stereo typing' of Native chiefs & their councils by: 1) the most vulnerable Native community members (95% - 99% of the members of Native communities), 2) non Native funders of Native communities & 3) et al, by pointing out once again, but, with greater emphasis, that the most vulnerable community members, both; Native & non Native, are slowly & painfully becoming aware of the threat that is posed to the bullying, information depriving despots (Death-Pots) by way of the sharing of the relevant information, in forums that have eliminated the fear of retaliation.

And, therefore, in regard to the recent, June 5, 2014, comments by the grand chief of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians Gordon Peters about negative 'stereotypes', it has also been suggested that Mr. Peters needn't be concerned as Native & non Native Canadians have made: 1) the distinctions between the bullying despots & the most vulnerable community members & 2) the distinctions between those chiefs & councils that want/need their community members to start getting the relevant information, including the information & questions in The WAD Accord & its Compensation and those chiefs & councils who need to keep their community members in the dark in order to supplicate the most 'vulnerables' to limited beliefs & 'hopes' and thereby, maintain, &/or, enhance their abusive powers.

Perhaps, Mr. Peters can take some solace in knowing that he may be able to learn more about which bullying, information depriving despots are presently being 'de-stereotyped'.

Some of the chiefs & councils may even graciously admit that some of the more abusive aspects of human nature are being used & rationalized by despots by claims that the abuse of their power is based upon tradition, &/or, culture that excludes the comprehension of the abuses by non Natives. Doesn't this suggest that unless you are in the position of being able to be bullied, etc., then you are incapable of, &/or, should be prohibited from helping those who are being bullied by providing the information & safe forums for the discussion, sharing, improving information, plans, etc. before they become a decision that are acted upon & the human costs are added up? There are many examples of this 'helping' precedent in other human communities around the globe.

The potential sponsors of this 'helping process' understand the importance of identifying, investigating, prosecuting & enforcing the prevention of the abusers from continuing their abuse. Similarly, the potential sponsors can assist the most vulnerable community members to ascertain the amount of compensation they are due for previous abuse. These sponsors who are being considered have also observed & understand that the political abuse of the RCMP is causing a great deal of morale problems within the non union service (see; Paul Palango; 'Dispersing the Fog'). Therefore, it is for the aforementioned reasons that the potential sponsors would like to be considered to help the most vulnerable community members eliminate their fears & help the most vulnerable develop the natural resources that are accessed by way of the community's lands. These are also the lands that have already been secretly 'negotiated', &/or, are in the process of being secretly 'negotiated' within Canada by way of the despots & without the full due diligence sharing of the information with the most vulnerable community members.

There are several reasons why some of these foreign corporate sponsors might be considered. They are: 1) basically, to understand & perhaps prevent bullying despots from making secret arrangements whereby, in exchange for: a) the despots' cooperation to endorse the last minute 'new' &'improved' environmental & safety standards, etc. for their projects that may be derived from the C – CI Treaty, the EU – Canada CET Agreement, the TP Partnership, et al & b) the 'protection' provided by the bullies for the potential foreign participants/ investors from the most vulnerable community members,

the potential foreign participants/investors may exclusively & secretly reward the bullies financially & thereby, further legitimize the bullies power & control by way the bullies' mechanisms of fear.

2) some of the potential foreign participants are as disgusted with the 'unethical' & 'inhumane' arrangements of corporate Canada & their representatives in the government of Canada as many Native & non Native Canadians, et al, are. One potential participant said:

'It's not that we are racist when it comes to dealing with Canadians, it's just that we can't stand the way that you suck up to us'.

That is to say; while corporate Canada & its political representatives 'suck up' to the 'coveted' foreign investor, the 'Canadians' also 'shi...', uh, “purge down”. It may be regrettable that this bullying is just part of human nature?

Isn't our job to identify & to minimize, &/or, eliminate it.

Therefore, while the most vulnerable Native community members may be looking for a much 'better' deal that protects their rights to live & express themselves in the absence of fear, isn't it reasonable to assume that they can also expect to start getting the aforementioned relevant information for their humble consideration, including The Compensation that is embodied in The W.A.D. Accord?

So, does the 'much better deal' by way of these 'foreign' countries include: 1) the elimination of the bullying by the information depriving despots, & 2) enabling the employment opportunities that can equal those non Native Canadians & then use the “better deal” to shrink the financial disparity between: the 95% - 99% of the communities' most vulnerable members & the 1% - 5% of the existing political & financial bullies, both; Native & non Native? & 3) et al.

But, aren't the above reasons why The W.A.D. Accord (aka; The Australian Question) was developed in the first place? That is to say, The Accord was developed in order to ensure that the most vulnerable community members are getting the relevant information & are getting the opportunity to consider, to discuss, to ask questions about it, to improve, to create alternatives, to reject, etc., the information & questions in The Accord, including The Compensation that is embodied in it?

By way of closing, now that Mr. Peters' concerns about negative stereotyping have been laid to rest, the most vulnerable community members, et al, might also consider some of the other areas of information that they are continuing to be deprived of that can be, &/or, are being abused by the the aforementioned bullies in order to strengthen their, the bullies', 'legitimacy' besides: 1) the on going land settlements & treaty rights negotiations, 2) the development of Aboriginal self-governance & 3) et al?

And, finally, how do you, the readers in North America, China, the European Union, the Trans Pacific nations, et al, think that these human nature issues can be redressed by The WAD Accord?

I look forward to reading about your questions, your comments, your improvements, etc., regarding the above & the information listed below.

Sincerely,

David E.H. Smith - Researcher - “Qui tam..."


Also see; "HELP IS ON THE WAY; UN's Mr. Anaya, et al. davidehsmith.wordpress.com


Please consider sharing the enclosed information & questions with 10 friends who will share it with 10 others & so on...


To SHARE Information & Questions re; The Relationship between Human (Nature) Rights & Economics in 1) the C-CI Treaty, the CET Agreement, TPP, et al, and 2) Native Canadian Treaties via The WAD Accord & to access the List of RECENT ARTICLES, LETTERS & NOTIFICATIONS by DEHS. see; davidehsmith.wordpress.com

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