The inquiry into B.C. missing and marginalized women, and why serial killer Robert Pickton wasn’t caught sooner, didn’t have to be this way.
That, according to three human rights groups, days before the quiry is expected to deliver its findings.
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association, Pivot Legal Society and West Coast LEAF have put together a report with a lengthy list of what they say are the inquiry’s main problems: its terms of reference were too narrow, its funding was poorly divided, it took too long getting underway, and it wasn’t independent.
Chief of all, they say, was neglecting the very people most affected – the women.
“It was there that women could have felt acknowledged, they could have been listened to, and really, that’s the failure we’re pointing out here.”
Kasari Govender with West Coast LEAF acknowledges they haven’t seen the report yet.
She says the groups remain optimistic about its findings, and that their criticism aims to help avoid the same problems in the future.
Inquiry head Wally Oppal says he doesn’t want people to prejudge his final report.
He respects the groups’ opinion, but asks them to read his report with an open mind.
In a statement, he adds his report puts forward strong recommendations for change, but if groups don’t find a way to support them, they won’t be acted upon.
His report is set to be filed by Nov. 30.
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