2004:03 Preventing Abuse of Women and Female Children in Polygamous Communities
Whereas:
a. Polygamy is a violation of section 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada;
b. Sexual assault, having regard to section 273.1, is a violation of section 273 of the Criminal Code of Canada;
c. Procuring or knowingly aiding in procuring a feigned marriage is a violation of section 292 of the Criminal Code of Canada;
d. Sexual exploitation of a young person by a person in a position of authority is a violation of section 153 of the Criminal Code of Canada; and
Whereas:
- One or more older males have controlling authority in polygamous communities and are using such authority to make demands on women and female children for sexual and breeding purposes; and
- Reports from women who are ex-members of polygamous communities indicate the immigration and emigration of women and female children is taking place across the Canada-United States of America border under threat to their physical and spiritual harm while proper authorities fail to act; and
- Sections 15 and 28 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee females equal protection, and benefit “before and under the law”; and
- Polygamy has already been condemned as a contravention of women’s equality rights by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights;
Resolved:
That the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy opposition to:
a. Polygamy in Canada;
b. The immigration and emigration of women and female children for sexual and breeding purposes;
c. The abuse of women and children in polygamous communities;
Further Resolved:
- Improve policies and practices to prevent immigration and emigration of female children for sexual and breeding purposes under the pretext of “celestial marriages”;
- Encourage all provinces to enforce the relevant sections of the Criminal Code of Canada so as to end polygamy in Canada;
- Take all steps necessary to ensure compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);
- Ensure the protection, rights, and freedoms of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
Resolved:
That the National Council of Women of Canada urge the International Council of Women to pursue action against the abuse of women and female children in polygamous communities worldwide;
Resolved:
That the National Council of Women of Canada urge all Local and Provincial Councils to:
a. Alert authorities to possible cases of abuse in their own communities; and
b. Encourage letter-writing campaigns by individual citizens to government levels drawing attention to this issue.