Good morning, Mr. Chair and honourable members of the Standing Committee. Thank you for inviting me to be present today to speak to this important piece of legislation.
My name is Arooj Shahida. I am a local Toronto radio host and producer of a South Asian-centred radio show called Canada Zindabad. The show is an initiative to promote greater awareness and appreciation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. My vision and hope is to educate and foster an appreciation of these freedoms within our community, especially the South Asian community living and working in Canada, and to truly own these values, so we may contribute fully towards this country and all of our prosperity.
The charter forms the basis of Canadian values and is wide in its humanitarian scope. lt is not be taken for granted. As the Canadian value system is cherished with many fundamental freedoms, it demonstrates an ongoing commitment and respect for the rights of each and every individual. With a specific focus on the South Asian community that I seek to motivate, and through the interactions I have had with this demographic, I have encountered circumstances that the current legislation seeks to address.
In this respect, as I am an activist for human rights, women's empowerment, and youth development, I am in full support of the intent of Bill S-7, the zero tolerance for barbaric cultural practices act, tabled by the Honourable Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander.
The stories of the women I have encountered resonate with me on many levels—as a Canadian citizen, as a member of the South Asian community, as a woman, and, as an individual. The recurring theme or undercurrent of all these stories is fear: fear of the loved ones closest to them, fear of the perceived retaliation from them or from their community, and fear of losing the bright future that would otherwise be available to them in this great country. It is also fear for their lives and fear of being abandoned by family.
But the most distressing thing I have found, without a doubt, is the constant feeling of hopelessness, the feeling that one cannot seek and find real assistance to change their situation or support to fight for their individual rights, while at the same time protecting the close-knit familial relationships that form such a fundamental part of these communities.
There have been shameful examples of these fears that have become reality, women who have been betrayed by those whom they had trusted throughout their lives. Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu from British Columbia was killed on her own mother's orders in Ludhiana, India. There was the Shafia family tragedy in Kingston, Ontario in which Zainab, 19; Sahar, 17; Geeti, 13; and, Rona Amir were murdered by Rona's husband, second wife and son. Khatera Sadiqi, 20, and her fiancé, were shot to death at an Ottawa shopping plaza. Aqsa Parvez, 16, was killed by her father and brother in Mississauga, Ontario.
What can we call these other than barbaric cultural practices? These are a few of the most severe examples of the tragedies that can occur in the closest of social relationships. These relationships form a major obstacle to this legislation but are also the key to its success.
I have experienced insights into this topic during my live radio show, especially during a recent call-in session during which I played a recent interview with the Honourable Minister Chris Alexander on Bill S-7. I received calls from primarily male individuals, as well as females, but fewer and farther between. When I asked the women to comment on air, they were clearly hesitant, as if someone might recognize their voice and they would end up being in trouble. This reminded me of women I encountered during volunteer work with a psychiatrist in a hospital in Pakistan, where women would not speak a single word in the presence of other family members about their issues or problems.
If the honourable members would permit me, please consider the following for a moment. Remember yourself in your youth, free to pursue your education, to do the activities you enjoy, to be with the friends that you like, to dream about the future that was possible. Now imagine that the people who have raised you, the siblings and extended family who are the only ones you have ever known throughout your life, tell you that the future you had hoped to have is not in store for you.
It is very difficult to imagine, but when faced with retaliation and rejection from those who you know and love, it is an overpowering and deflating state, similar to the woman who struggles to find a way out of domestic abuse situations. There's the feeling that they have no one to turn to, no path to escape, with only misery if they exercise their personal freedoms. It can leave them without hope and resigned to their fate.
I ask that the honourable members of this committee please consider as an important part of their review how we can truly help the victims of these horrible activities by preventing them from being victims at all.
With this bill I can see the desire to tackle issues that have plagued these groups for years and years. The challenge is real, the obstacles are many, but I am hopeful this bill is the beginning of a direction towards significant change in not only how we deal with those who believe they can trample the rights of others, but in how we can successfully reach out and provide hope to those who have none.
Canada has always been a leader in protecting basic human rights and freedoms and I applaud our representatives for again taking the lead on these issues. I hope the honourable members will look to making this piece of legislation an effective, practical law, which will support the women and youth who live this reality in their daily lives.
Thank you.