CAT/C/CAN/CO/7
(c)
Provide mandatory training on the prosecution of gender-based violence
to all justice officials and law enforcement personnel and continue awareness-raising
campaigns on all forms of violence against women, especially against indigenous
women and girls;
(d)
Ensure that survivors of gender-based violence are able to access shelters
and receive the necessary medical care, psychological support and legal assistance that
they require;
(e)
Consider acceding to the International Convention for the Protection of
All Persons from Enforced Disappearance;
(f)
Compile statistical data, disaggregated by the age and ethnicity or
nationality of the victim, on the number of complaints, investigations, prosecutions,
convictions and sentences recorded in cases of gender-based violence.
Involuntary sterilization of indigenous women
50.
The Committee is concerned at reports of extensive forced or coerced sterilization of
indigenous women and girls dating back to the 1970s and including recent cases in the
province of Saskatchewan between 2008 and 2012. According to the information before the
Committee, at least 55 women have contacted lawyers representing indigenous women who
have filed a pending class action lawsuit against doctors and health officials at a
Saskatchewan public hospital for undergoing tubal ligation procedures without proper
consent. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the delegation on the
external review on this matter launched by Saskatoon Health Region (which later became
part of the Saskatchewan Health Authority) in January 2017, but remains concerned at the
lack of information regarding the implementation of the calls of action included in the final
report, especially those related to reparation (arts. 2, 12, 13, 14 and 16).
51.
The State party should:
(a)
Ensure that all allegations of forced or coerced sterilization are
impartially investigated, that the persons responsible are held accountable and that
adequate redress is provided to the victims;
(b)
Adopt legislative and policy measures to prevent and criminalize the
forced or coerced sterilization of women, particularly by clearly defining the
requirement for free, prior and informed consent with regard to sterilization and by
raising awareness among indigenous women and medical personnel of that
requirement.
Training
52.
While noting the existing general training programmes on human rights for police
officers and members of the armed forces, the Committee remains concerned by the lack of
information on the impact of the training provided. While noting that in Nova Scotia,
initiatives have been developed to educate officials to recognize and prevent torture and illtreatment, the Committee regrets the limited information available on training provided to
law enforcement officials, judges, prosecutors, forensic doctors and medical personnel on
how to detect and document the physical and psychological sequelae of torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (art. 10).
53.
The State party should:
(a)
Further develop mandatory training programmes to ensure that all
public officials, in particular law enforcement officials, military personnel, prison staff
and medical personnel employed in prisons, are well acquainted with the provisions of
the Convention and are fully aware that violations will not be tolerated and will be
investigated and that those responsible will be prosecuted;
(b)
Develop a methodology for assessing the effectiveness of training
programmes in reducing the number of cases of torture and ill-treatment and in
ensuring the identification, documentation, investigation and prosecution of these
acts;
12