The governments of Canada and Manitoba have announced they’re taking steps to better protect Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people by developing the ‘Red Dress Alert’ pilot program.
The alert system, supported by funding in Canada’s Budget 2024 and Manitoba’s Budget 2024, will provide notification when an Indigenous woman, girl, two-spirit or gender-diverse person goes missing so they can be brought home safely.
A national inquiry five years ago found Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people are at a much higher risk of experiencing violence than non-Indigenous women – 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered in comparison to non-Indigenous women in Canada.
In the past year Ottawa and Manitoba say they heard from Indigenous partners that a Red Dress Alert system is needed, and in order for it to be safe and effective, it must be informed by inclusive consultation and grounded in understanding and respect of Indigenous cultures, lived realities and diverse regional contexts.
After 16 engagement sessions, the federal government brought together Indigenous communities and leadership, provinces and territories, and other partners to work together on what a community-based Red Dress Alert could look like.
The pilot, which will continue to be designed with and led by Indigenous voices and knowledge, will help inform a national alerting system.
