A report from Human Rights Watch has documented a number of disturbing allegations of rape and sexual assault at the hands of the Canadian Federal Police.
The Canadian Prime Minister said the government had no information about the allegations of abuse committed by the RCMP.
However, Harper said a commission would pursue the claims.
The report was the outcome of an investigation into the ‘Highway of tears’, a name used to describe an infamous 800 kilometre stretch of highway in Central British Columbia where 18 women have disappeared over the past several decades.
The researchers noted that all of the victims in the report were frightened about possible retaliation within their communities or by police, and insisted on having their identities protected.
Indigenous communities in Canada, also known as the first nations, say they are frustrated with the government’s failure to address the social and economic grievances facing many of the 1.2 million aborigines.
Many of Canada’s natives live in poor conditions with unsafe drinking water, inadequate housing, addiction, and high suicide rates.
- zbc
0