Inuit organizations must speak out against domestic violence: Ugyuk

Inuit organizations must take a strong stand against violence towards women, said Jeannie Ugyuk, MLA for Nattilik, in the Nunavut legislature on March 8. Ugyuk wore traditional dress in honour of International Women’s Day. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

Nunavut organizations must speak out and express their “outrage” about violence against women in the territory and demand change, Jeannie Ugyuk, the MLA for Nattilik, said on March 8, International Women’s Day, in Nunavut’s legislature.

During her member’s statement, Ugyuk said Nunavut’s Qulliit status of women council had been “so quiet” recently that it worried her, especially in light of continuing high levels violence against women in the territory.

The Nunavut rate of domestic violence against female victims is more than 10 times greater than the national average.

Ugyuk called on Inuit organizations to take a “stronger stand” and speak out for women who do not dare to speak out for themselves.

“Many women are afraid to speak up about the situation that they live in and face on a daily basis,” she said.

Ugyuk mentioned the recent deaths of two women in Nunavut in which spousal violence is alleged to have played a role.

“These deaths are a reminder that domestic violence is still a terrible problem in our territory of Nunavut,” she said.

The lack of presence of women in the legislature — where only two out of 19 MLAs are women — also prompted Ugyuk to reflect that “there is still a long way to go” in achieving gender equality in Nunavut.