Canada’s province of Manitoba has announced plans to develop a “Red Dress Alert” system in an effort to address the ongoing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The announcement was made by Indigenous and Northern Relations Minister Eileen Clarke on Tuesday, who stated that the alert system will be modeled after the existing Amber Alert system for missing children.
The Red Dress Alert will be used to quickly spread information about missing Indigenous women and girls, with the goal of increasing the chances of finding them and bringing them home safely.
According to Clarke, the alert system will be developed in collaboration with Indigenous communities and organizations, and will be tailored to meet the specific needs and concerns of Indigenous women and girls.
The decision to create a Red Dress Alert system comes after years of advocacy from Indigenous communities and organizations, who have been calling for action to address the disproportionately high rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
In a statement, Clarke acknowledged the urgency of the issue, stating that “Indigenous women and girls are going missing and being murdered at an alarming rate in our province and across the country. We must take action to address this crisis.”
The Red Dress Alert system is just one of the measures being taken by the Manitoba government to address the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Other initiatives include the creation of a task force to review and improve the justice system’s response to cases involving Indigenous women and girls, as well as the establishment of a dedicated unit within the Winnipeg Police Service to investigate cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The development of the Red Dress Alert system has been welcomed by Indigenous leaders and advocates, who see it as a step in the right direction towards addressing the ongoing crisis.
In a statement, Grand Chief Arlen Dumas of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs stated that “the Red Dress Alert system is a critical tool in our efforts to protect and support Indigenous women and girls. We look forward to working with the government to ensure that this system is effective and responsive to the needs of our communities.”
The Manitoba government has not yet announced a timeline for the implementation of the Red Dress Alert system, but Clarke has stated that it will be a priority for the province.
As the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls continues to be a pressing concern in Canada, the development of the Red Dress Alert system is a significant step towards addressing this crisis and ensuring the safety and well-being of Indigenous women and girls.
