Delite
The Hague, 19 August 2024: – The recent decision by the Canadian government to remove funding caps for searches for unmarked graves at former Indigenous Residential School (IRS) sites is a significant and commendable step forward. This change addresses concerns raised by First Nations and demonstrates a renewed commitment to supporting their vital work in seeking justice and accountability for children who died or disappeared in the former IRS System.
Kathryne Bomberger, Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), emphasized today that Canada can take effective steps to support First Nations as they seek justice and accountability for the death or disappearance of children in the former IRS System.
The Interim Report on Missing Children and Unmarked Burials published in March 2024, covers work carried out by ICMP in Canada between January 2023 and March 2024 and recommends next steps. The report underscores the importance of engaging with Indigenous communities to address the issue of missing children, including investigating unmarked graves and exploring options for the potential repatriation of children’s remains.
“States have a duty to locate missing persons, investigate disappearances, and secure the rights of surviving families to truth, justice, and reparations,” Bomberger said. “It is crucial that the Government of Canada supports these efforts, particularly by recognizing Indigenous autonomy and jurisdiction, supporting Indigenous self-determination, and providing necessary technical assistance on the ground.”
Through its engagement with Indigenous rights holders and partners, ICMP has identified key themes for consideration in future planning, including the importance of:
- recognizing Indigenous autonomy and jurisdiction,
- supporting Indigenous Self-Determination,
- providing technical assistance on the ground, and
- developing and maintaining visibility and accountability.
The report also calls on the Government of Canada to take specific actions, including:
- Ratifying the United Nations International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,
- Amending the Technical Arrangement with ICMP to facilitate collaboration with communities and Survivor groups,
- Convening a multijurisdictional dialogue on lands and territories where unmarked graves have been found,
- Establishing sustainable and adequate funding beyond 2025 for Indigenous communities leading their own investigations or seeking technical advice or services, and
- Ensuring that Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) continues to coordinate and implement support for communities.
The Interim Report on Missing Children and Unmarked Burials can be accessed here.
About ICMP
ICMP is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization with Headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. Its mandate is to secure the cooperation of governments and others in locating missing persons from conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, migration and other causes and to assist them in doing so.
