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Citizenship Education for Landed Immigrants/Permanent Residents

2018.02 CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION FOR LANDED IMMIGRANTS AND/OR PERMANENT RESIDENTS

Whereas #1 the Government of Canada publishes a booklet which helps new Canadians study for their citizenship test but it does not cover aspects of Canadian law and culture that are important to protect women and girls; and

Whereas #2 some laws and cultural practices in Canada differ from other countries, and female immigrants may not be aware of their rights; and

Whereas #3 some of these unlawful practices include female genital mutilation, early and forced marriages, polygamy, sexual assault, and honour killings, and some cultural practices include family planning and abortion services; and

Whereas #4 in 2015 the Government of Canada called for “zero tolerance” of “barbaric cultural practices” by asking Canadians to denounce to authorities such practices; therefore be it

Resolved #1 that the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) adopt as policy the protection of Landed Immigrant and/or Permanent Resident women and girls from unlawful practices; and be it further

Resolved #2 that NCWC urge the Government of Canada to protect Landed Immigrant and/or Permanent Resident women and girls by reforming the citizenship and testing program to include, among other things, human rights information about Canadian laws against female genital mutilation (FGM), early and forced marriages, polygamy, sexual assault, “honour killings”, and helpful universal health coverage, family planning, and abortion services; and be it further

Resolved #3 that NCWC urge the Government of Canada to amend the short title of the current law Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices, changing “barbaric cultural” to “harmful” in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace and Security” and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.