In response to recent reporting about the proposed women’s shelter in Ottawa’s South end, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada expresses support for the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition in their efforts to build a shelter for Inuit women in the city. More than half of Inuit across Inuit Nunangat live in overcrowded homes, and these conditions impact families’ health and well-being.
Inuit women experience some of the highest levels of violence in Canada and have the least access to shelters. Our research shows that more than 60% of Inuit communities do not have shelter services; this means that many women are forced to leave behind their communities, language, culture, and lands to find safe shelter. These are clear violations of Inuit women’s basic rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) to shelter, to be free from violence, and to remain within their culture and on their lands.
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada is saddened to see implicit and unconscious biases creating barriers to safe spaces for Inuit women and children in need of shelter. We recognize the strength it takes to make the decision to leave your community.
Further Research:
Planning for the Future: The Reality Inuit Women Face When Seeking Shelter From Domestic Violence: https://pauktuutit.ca/project/planning-for-the-future/
Ottawa Inuit Women’s Housing and Shelter Needs Assessment: https://pauktuutit.ca/project/ottawa-inuit-womens-housing-and-shelter-needs-assessment/