Victims’ ombudsperson wants ‘femicide’ made a stand-alone Criminal Code offence

The federal ombudsperson for victims of crime is calling on the government to take action against hate crimes in Canada. In a new report titled Strengthening Access to Justice for Victims of Hate Crime in Canada, the ombudsperson’s office has outlined 13 recommendations to better address hate crimes and support their victims.

One of the key recommendations is to add femicide to the Criminal Code as a stand-alone offence. Femicide is defined as the intentional act of murder against a woman or girl because of their gender. The report also suggests treating femicide as an aggravating factor when sentencing perpetrators.

The report also highlights the need for legal measures to combat residential school denialism. This recommendation comes in the wake of NDP MP Leah Gazan’s private member’s bill, C-413, which aims to make denying, condoning, or downplaying the harms of the residential school system an indictable offence punishable by up to two years in prison.

In addition to these recommendations, the report calls for a clear definition of hate crimes in the Criminal Code and the addition of hate crime as a stand-alone offence that does not require the attorney general’s consent for prosecution. This would help protect survivors and uphold freedom of speech.

Other recommendations in the report include ensuring victims’ rights are central to combating hate in Canada, holding social media companies accountable for amplifying harmful content and hate speech, and developing national standards for preventing and investigating hate crimes.

The ombudsperson also emphasizes the importance of implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice. The report underscores the need to continue improving access and funding for the Canada Community Security Program (CCSP) and to review Canada’s Action Plan on Combating Hate annually to measure results.

Overall, the report serves as a call to action to protect Canadians from violence targeting their identity. It underscores the importance of ensuring everyone in Canada has access to justice, regardless of their background or beliefs. The federal government now has the opportunity to take concrete steps to address hate crimes and support victims in the country.