Status of Women committee  If I can take a moment, I'll say that I'm completely and strongly in agreement with that, and ditto--the same--for girls and for aboriginal girls: there need to be specific advocates for young women, for aboriginal young women. As far as denial goes, I think one thing would help.

Status of Women committee  Something we've all talked about is probably the immense impact of colonial repression. I think if you look at the situation of indigenous girls and women in Australia, you'll see very similar situations. You'll see the over-criminalization. You'll see a majority of women and girls in prisons being indigenous.

Status of Women committee  Maybe this is more of a question or a thought for women in Parliament, but what do you need to be able to act? It feels like there are so many recommendations, but I would ask you, what will make government act? What are the barriers that are in your way or in the way of taking on some of these things?

Status of Women committee  Thank you. On the numbers, as far as women who are in jail for responding to violence against them, I think the Elizabeth Fry Society nationally used to have those numbers. I don't know how updated they are now, but they used to have those, for sure. If we're talking federally, then we're missing bodies of accountability.

Status of Women committee  Thank you for taking the time to hear us today. My name is Asia Czapska. I am the advocacy director at Justice for Girls. Justice for Girls is a B.C.-based non-profit that promotes social justice, freedom from violence, and equality for teen girls who live in poverty. We advocate for both individual girls and systemically, to challenge laws, policies, and practices that breach the rights of teen girls who are homeless and low-income.