Groups Boycotting Missing Women Inquiry

OPEN LETTER
Groups affirm boycott of discriminatory Missing Women Commission of Inquiry
April 10, 2012

Fifteen organizations issued letters directed to Commissioner Wally Oppal confirming that they will not be participating in the "second phase" of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, citing concerns about discrimination and the conduct of the Commission to date.

The attached letters from an informal coalition of advocacy and service providing groups, the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations are written in response to an invitation letter sent by Commissioner Wally Oppal, asking organizations to return to the Inquiry.

Full PDF copies at: http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/files/PDF/OpenLetterstoMWCI_041012.pdf

Text of the letter from the coalition of advocacy and service providing groups available below.

For more information, please contact:

Aboriginal Front Door Society, Mona Woodward, Executive Director, (604) 697-5662
Amnesty International Canada, Craig Benjamin, (613) 744 -7667 ext 235
Atira Women's Resource Society, Janice Abbott, Executive Director, (604) 331-1420
B.C. Civil Liberties Association, David Eby, Executive Director, (778) 865-7997
Battered Women's Support Services, Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director, (604) 808-0507
Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council, Terry Teegee, Vice Tribal Chief, (250) 640-3256
Downtown Eastside Sex Workers United Against Violence Society, Katrina Pacey, (604) 729-7849
Ending Violence Association British Columbia, Tracy Porteous, Executive Director, (604) 633-2506, x11
February 14th Women's Memorial March Committee, Lisa Yellow-Quill, L.YellowQuill@gmail.com
First Nations Summit, Colin Braker, Communications Director, (604) 926-9903
Native Women's Association of Canada, Claudette Dumont-Smith, Exec. Director, (613) 722-3033 x223
PACE: Providing Alternatives Counselling & Education Society, Karen Mirsky, (778) 838-2972
Pivot Legal Society, Doug King, Lawyer, (778) 898-6349
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, (250) 490-5314
Union Gospel Mission, Genesa Greening, Director, Community Strategies, (604) 506-0845
West Coast LEAF, Executive Director, Kasari Govinder, (604) 684-8772, x212
WISH Drop-in Centre Society, Kate Gibson, Executive Director, (604)669-9474

Read more: http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews04101201.html#ixzz1rf6LY0Pt