On Intl. Women’s Day Nunavut politicians call for an end to violence against women

On March 8 Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq called on Nunavummiut to celebrate International Women’s Week, March 3 to March 9, and International Women’s Day, observed on March 8.

“I encourage all Nunavummiut to celebrate the women in our communities,” Aglukkaq said in a news release. “We must work together, with men and women, to prevent violence against women and girls in all its forms, wherever it occurs.”

Canada’s 2013 theme for Internatiional Women’s Day is “Working Together: Engaging Men to End Violence against Women.”

The goal: to see men to become part of the solution and speak out to end violence against women and girls.

The news release from Aglukkaq said that since 2007, the Conservative government has approved more than $57 million for projects that seek to address violence against women and girls.

But the rate of violence against women in Nunavut remains nearly 13 times higher than the Canadian average, Monica Ell, the minister responsible for the Status of Women in Nunavut, said March 7 in the Nunavut legislature.

“How can we reduce violence against women in Nunavut? Simply saying the government should do something about it is not enough,” Ell said.

Also speaking in the assembly, Akulliq MLA John Ningark acknowledged two women in his home community of Kugaaruk who contribute to the community, mentioning Ludgarde Angutingungniq, the new co-operative association president who also serves as the school’s vice-principal, and Celine Ningark, the chairperson of the local District of Education Authority.

“I encourage all women in Nunavut to throw their names into the various positions. The next election is also quite close, so I encourage and support all women to run for office. Women are advancing in all fields here in our territory,” he said.