The scale of violence experienced by Indigenous Women in Canada requires a comprehensive and coordinated response from the Canadian Government

"The committee...recommends that [Canada] develop a specific and integrated plan for addressing the particular conditions affecting Aboriginal women... including poverty, poor health, inadequate housing, low school-completion rates, low employment rates, low income and high rates of violence." UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, November 2008.

Long-standing patterns of marginalization, impoverishment and discrimination are critical factors putting Indigenous women in Canada at risk of violence and exploitation. These same factors have also denied many Indigenous women full protection of the police and justice system.

According to a government statistic, young Indigenous women in Canada are five times more likely than other women of the same age to die as the result of violence. The Native Women's Association of Canada has documented more than 520 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, most within the last three decades. Because of gaps in police and government reporting, the actual numbers may be much higher.

The Canadian government has condemned the violence and promised to take action. But efforts to date have fallen far short of the comprehensive, coordinated response needed to address such serious and pervasive human rights violations.