National centre, increased police powers to tackle murdered, missing women cases

APTN National News
VANCOUVER–The federal government announced Friday it was launching a “multi-pronged” approach to combat violence against Aboriginal women.

Status of Women Minister Rona Ambrose said the government was putting $10 million over two years toward the creation of a national centre for missing persons and other pilot projects, along with introducing amendments to the Criminal Code to make the investigation of missing and murdered women cases easier for police.

“As minister of status of women I am very concerned with the pattern of violence against Aboriginal women and the impact it has on families who suffer as a result,” said Ambrose.

Ambrose said she found the “nearly 600 cases” of murdered and missing women “and the details of each” to be “distressing and shocking.”

Ambrose also said that Aboriginal women faced more violence and death than non-Aboriginal women in Canada. She said Aboriginal women were also more likely to face domestic violence than non-Aboriginal women.

The federal government had set aside $10 million toward developing a national strategy to deal with murdered and missing Aboriginal women cases in the last federal budget.

Ambrose said the funding would go toward the creation of a national police support centre for missing persons which would provide coordination and specialized support on missing persons cases.

Ambrose also said the existing police database that contains missing persons information would be enhanced to include additional data.

A new website will also be created where people can provide tips on missing persons cases.

Ambrose said the government would also be introducing amendments to the Criminal Code to allow police to obtain multiple warrants for a criminal investigation on a single application to a judge.

Ambrose said funding would also go toward improving “culturally appropriate” victim services, enhancing community safety plans along with school and community-based pilot projects “to help break the intergenerational cycles” of violence and abuse.

“This is an important day in the safety of women, particularly the safety and security of Aboriginal women,” said Ambrose.