MONTREAL – The Shafia murder trial was, without a doubt, eye-opening to many Quebecers and Canadians.
The case brought honour crimes into the spotlight.
More than four years later, a prominent Quebec women’s group thinks the government has not been pro-active to prevent other honour crimes.
“We feel it’s urgent to train the groups,” said Julie Miville-Dechene, the president of the Council on the Status of Women.
“Training is needed in all Quebec groups to be able to spot and to prevent honour-based violence.”
At a news conference Wednesday, the group presented a new research study on honour crimes.
The nearly 200-page report made seven recommendations.
Of note, they’re asking for immediate changes to Youth Protection laws.
They want parents to be left out of the process when children file complaints.
In the Shafia case, when the mother and father were advised of the allegations, the victim changed her story.
“There is a real risk for the young people to talk about the violence they’ve been submitted to,”said Yolande Geadah, the study’s author.
The Council on the Status of Women is also asking for a province-wide action plan – better training for police officers and school officials.
In Quebec City, Democratic Institutions minister Bernard Drainville says part of the solution lies with the proposed Charter of Values.
“The symbolism of the Charter with regards to protecting the principle of equality between men and women may help us,” he told reporters.
Liberal MNA Stephanie Vallee says the Charter would have solved nothing.
Julie Miville-Dechene agrees.
“With or without the Charter, honour crimes remain a problem.”
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