Human Rights Watch Report on Abuse of Indigenous Women in Saskatchewan

At a press conference in Saskatoon with community partners last month, Human Rights Watch released its submission to the Canadian Government entitled “Police Abuse of Indigenous Women in Saskatchewan and Failures to Protect Indigenous Women from Violence.” The submission highlights the need to examine how policing failures and distrust of law enforcement endanger Indigenous women.  The lack of accountability for policing abuses against Indigenous women exacerbates long-standing tensions between police and Indigenous communities.
 
The International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law partnered with HRW on this project. Our clinic students Dora Chan and Lara Koerner Yeo did an incredible job providing comprehensive legal research, writing, and editing support.
 
The full report can be found here: http://bit.ly/2sHKHC9 and the press release here: http://bit.ly/2sOL4uX

Press Coverage | Saskatchewan Report
 
Online Coverage

• The Globe and Mail, “Report submitted to Ottawa highlights police abuse against Indigenous women.” June 19, 2017 https://tgam.ca/2tEWkqA
• The Globe and Mail Editorial, ”Police must be held to account for abuse of Indigenous women.” June 19, 2017 https://tgam.ca/2tJkQXS *in June 20th print edition*
• Vice News, “Police are groping and roughing up Indigenous women in Saskatchewan, report says.” June 19, 2017 https://news.vice.com/story/police-are-groping-and-roughing-up-indigenous-women-in-saskatchewan-report-says
• CBC News / Indigenous, “Human Rights Watch wants special unit to look at alleged Sask. police violence against Indigenous women.” June 19, 2017 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/human-rights-watch-saskatchewan-police-1.4165196?cmp=rss *includes coverage of entire press conference*
• CBC News, “Sask. RCMP refutes report claim that police, Indigenous relationship is 'deeply fractured. “ June 20, 2017 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/human-rights-watch-report-police-violence-women-saskatchewan-rcmp-response-1.4168589
• CBC Saskatchewan, “Human rights group critical of Saskatchewan police.” June 19, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFgTVNH-1TA&feature=youtu.be&a
• Global News, “Report alleges police mistreatment of Indigenous women in Saskatchewan.” June 19, 2017 http://globalnews.ca/news/3539332/indigenous-women-saskatchewan-subject-to-police-mistreatment-report-human-rights-watch/
• CTV News Saskatoon, “Indigenous women in Saskatchewan subject to police mistreatment: report” June 19, 2017  http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/indigenous-women-in-saskatchewan-subject-to-police-mistreatment-report-1.3466231
• Hamilton Spectator, “Indigenous women in Saskatchewan subject to police mistreatment: report.” June 19, 2017 http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7380507-indigenous-women-in-saskatchewan-subject-to-police-mistreatment-report/ via the Canadian Press
• Radio Canada, ”64 femmes autochtones lèvent le voile sur les agressions policières en Saskatchewan.” June 19, 2017  http://bit.ly/2tJ4luH
• Saskatoon Star Phoenix, “Group wants independent investigation into allegations of police misconduct against indigenous women in Sask.” June 19, 2017 http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/indigenous-women-in-saskatchewan-subject-to-police-mistreatment-report
• Toronto Sun, “Human Rights Watch alleges abuse of indigenous women by Saskatchewan police.” June 19, 2017 http://www.torontosun.com/2017/06/19/human-rights-watch-alleges-abuse-of-indigenous-women-by-saskatchewan-police
• My Yellowknife Now, “RCMP ISSUE STATEMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT.” June 19, 2017 http://www.myyellowknifenow.com/24453/rcmp-issue-statement-human-rights-watch-report/
• Prince Albert Daily Herald, “Broken trust: Indigenous women report cases of police misconduct.” June 19, 2017 https://paherald.sk.ca/2017/06/19/broken-trust-indigenous-women-report-cases-police-misconduct/
• Huffington Post Canada, “Human Rights Watch Report Claims Indigenous Women Regularly Abused By Sask. Police.” June 19, 2017 http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/06/19/indigenous-women-in-saskatchewan-subject-to-police-mistreatment-report_n_17210926.html
• Brampton Guardian, “Report alleges police mistreatment of indigenous women.” June 19, 2017 https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/7379719-report-alleges-police-mistreatment/
• The National Post, “The Monday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories.” June 19, 2017 http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/the-monday-news-briefing-an-at-a-glance-survey-of-some-top-stories/wcm/14943dc3-6bd3-4585-87bc-fe487439e022
• The Telegraph, Saskatoon, “Indigenous women in Saskatchewan subject to police mistreatment: report” June 19, 2017 http://www.thetelegram.com/news/regional/2017/6/19/indigenous-women-in-saskatchewan-subject-to-police-mistreatment-report.html via the Canadian Press
• AM 650 CKOM, June 19, 2017 http://ckom.com/article/1638413/saskatoon-police-respond-human-watch-report
• AM 980 CJME, June 19, 2017  http://cjme.com/article/1284689/hard-explain-regina-police-human-rights-watch-report
• 620 CKRM, June 19, 2017 http://www.620ckrm.com/2017/06/19/human-rights-watch-report-urges-for-independent-investigation-into-alleged-police-wrongdoing-against-indigenous-women/