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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 21, 2007 A coalition of women’s anti-violence advocates is calling on Ontario political parties to make a public commitment to address issues for Aboriginal women in the province.
The Step It Up! Campaign is a coalition of provincial women’s advocacy networks, rape crisis centres, shelters and second stage housing programs, women’s centres, labour and community groups. The Campaign calls on all political Parties in Ontario to adopt 10 Steps to End Violence Against Women in their platforms for the October 10th election.
“Aboriginal women experience very high levels of violence and poverty as a result of sexism, racism and the impacts of colonialism on Aboriginal People all over Canada,” said Eileen Morrow of the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses and a member of the Campaign. “We think it’s time for political parties in Ontario to publicly state what steps they plan to take and what resources they will commit to addressing issues of concern identified by Aboriginal women in the province,” she said. Today is National Aboriginal Solidarity Day. The Step it Up! Campaign is calling on women and men around Ontario to contact political parties and ask them what their Party will do to support the work of Aboriginal women across the province working to end violence against Aboriginal women. To access an E-card and Party contact information, go to the Step it Up! website at: www.stepitupontario.ca. Step it Up! calls on all Parties to understand and act on violence against women as an equality rights issue and to put in their Party Platforms measures to address the steps women need to end violence against women. The Campaign is currently endorsed by 100 groups across the province. More information about the Step it Up! Campaign and a list of our endorsers are available on our website. Media contacts: Eileen Morrow, OAITH 416-977-6619 Attachments: E-card to the Parties , Backgrounder on National Aboriginal Solidarity Day |
