{"id":6584,"date":"2018-12-10T12:19:31","date_gmt":"2018-12-10T17:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=6584"},"modified":"2019-11-06T03:28:14","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T08:28:14","slug":"press-release-urgent-action-needed-to-ensure-indigenous-women-are-not-sterilized-without-their-consent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/6584\/press-release-urgent-action-needed-to-ensure-indigenous-women-are-not-sterilized-without-their-consent\/","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE: Urgent Action Needed to Ensure Indigenous Women Are Not Sterilized Without Their Consent"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>(December 10, 2018)<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Across Canada and as recently as 2017, Indigenous women report being forcibly or coercively sterilized. Some women were incorrectly told the procedure is reversible. Others were separated from their babies until they consented to a tubal ligation.<\/p>\n<p>Forced and coerced sterilizations of Indigenous women are a result of systemic violence and discrimination against Indigenous peoples in the provision of public services in Canada, a pattern well known and acknowledged by government. They are an assault on Indigenous women, their families, their communities, and their Nations that have already been subjected to forced assimilation through colonialism, including eugenic practices.<\/p>\n<p>Sterilizing women without their free, full, and informed consent is a form of violence and torture.Measures to prevent births within ethnic or racial groups is explicitly prohibited by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.<\/p>\n<p>All women have the human right to make decisions around if, when, and how to create a family. All women have a right to live free from violence and discrimination. All women have a right to health.<\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">We, the undersigned organizations call on the Government of Canada to take immediate action to address the issue of coerced and forced sterilizations of Indigenous women in Canada and:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Investigate allegations of forced or coerced sterilizations in Canada, with particular attention to cases involving Indigenous women and girls, ensuring justice and reparations to survivors and their families.<\/li>\n<li>Appoint a special representative to meet with survivors and their families to hear their requests for justice and reparations.<\/li>\n<li>Apply existing criminal legislation on aggravated assault\u00a0<span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">and disciplinary measures for breach of professional standards<\/span>\u00a0for cases of forced or coerced sterilization.<\/li>\n<li>Change government policies and practices to explicitly prohibit sterilization without free, full, and informed consent.<\/li>\n<li>Implement Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action 23 and 24 on increasing the number of Indigenous healthcare professionals and providing cultural competency training to all healthcare professionals.<\/li>\n<li>Develop a comprehensive National Action Plan to prevent and address gender-based violence involving the federal government, provinces, territories, municipalities, and First Nations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Endorsed by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Aboriginal Front Door Society<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Aboriginal Legal Services<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Aboriginal Women\u2019s Action Network<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Action Canada on Sexual Health and Rights<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Alberta Society for the Promotion of Sexual Health<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada\u00a0<span lang=\"FR-CA\" xml:lang=\"FR-CA\">Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie \u2013 comit\u00e9 des femmes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists \u2013 National<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Amnesty International Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Amnistie internationale Canada Francophone<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Atira Women\u2019s Resource Society<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">BC Native Women&#8217;s Association<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">British Columbia Civil Liberties Association &#8211; Association des libert\u00e9s civiles de la Colombie-Britannique<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Association for Community Living<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Association of Midwives<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Association of University Teachers<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Civil Liberties Association<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Health Coalition<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Labour Congress<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Union of Postal Workers STTP<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Union of Public Employees<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Union of Public Employees \u2013 Ontario<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Voice of Women for Peace<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canada Without Poverty<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Centro de Desarrollo Andino Sisay (Peru)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ES-CO\" xml:lang=\"ES-CO\">Comit\u00e9 de Am\u00e9rica Latina y el Caribe para la Defensa de los Derechos de las Mujeres (Peru)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"FR-CA\" xml:lang=\"FR-CA\">Comit\u00e9 des femmes Laval, Laurentides et Lanaudi\u00e8re et Abitibi-T\u00e9miscamingue<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Canadian Women\u2019s Foundation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">DEMUS \u2013 Estudio para la Defensa de los Derechos de la Mujer (Peru)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des femmes du Qu\u00e9bec<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Federation of Medical Women of Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Femmes Autochtones du Qu\u00e9bec<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Femmes de l\u2019Alliance de la fonction publique (Qu\u00e9bec)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">First United Church Community Ministry Society, Vancouver<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Greenpeace<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">International Women\u2019s Rights \u2013 Manitoba<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Inter Pares<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"FR-CA\" xml:lang=\"FR-CA\">La F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des travailleurs et travailleuses du Qu\u00e9bec<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">MATCH International Women\u2019s Fund<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">National Association of Women and the Law<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Native Women\u2019s Association of Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Nobel Women\u2019s Initiative<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Ontario Federation of Labour<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Ontario Secondary School Teachers\u2019 Federation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Oxfam Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Pacific Association of First Nations Women<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Public Service Alliance of Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Save the Children Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Sexual Health Nova Scotia<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Planned Parenthood Regina \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">SHORE Centre<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Syndicat Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois des Employ\u00e9es Et Employ\u00e9s de Service Section Local 298-FTQ<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">UFCW Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Union of BC Indian Chiefs<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">United Steelworkers<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">WAVAW Rape Crisis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">West Coast LEAF<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Women\u2019s Legal Education &amp; Action Fund (LEAF)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Women\u2019s Shelter Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">YWCA Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Dr. Pamela Palmater, Chair in Indigenous Governance, Ryerson University<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-CA\" xml:lang=\"EN-CA\">Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, Canada Research Chair in Global Indigenous Rights and Politics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>French <a href=\"file:\/\/\/C:\/Users\/lokurdi\/Downloads\/Declaration%20st%C3%A9rilisation%20des%20femmes%20autochtones%20sans%20leur%20consentement%20FR.pdf\">press release.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Media Contact: press@greenpeace.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(December 10, 2018)\u00a0&#8211; Across Canada and as recently as 2017, Indigenous women report being forcibly or coercively sterilized. Some women were incorrectly told the procedure is reversible. Others were separated&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":6585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"","p4_local_project":"","p4_basket_name":"","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5],"tags":[28,29],"p4-page-type":[14],"class_list":["post-6584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-live-sustainably","category-our-work","tag-health","tag-indigenous","p4-page-type-press-release"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6584"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6591,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6584\/revisions\/6591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6584"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=6584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}