May 5 is Red Dress Day.

For more information about Red Dress Day, visit the Assembly of First Nations’ Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women and Girls webpage.

Red Dress Day is also known as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit+ (MMIWG2S+)

MMIWG2S+ information (from the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition)

Let’s Remember:

  • Indigenous girls under 18 are more likely to be reported missing than non-Indigenous girls under 18.
  • Indigenous girls make up 7% of the total population of girls in Canada, yet they represent 50% of all female homicide victims in Canada between 2001 and 2017.
  • Indigenous girls are often disproportionately targeted by sexual exploitation and trafficking.
  • 56% of Indigenous women have suffered physical assault, and 46% have experienced sexual assault. By comparison, about one-third of non-Indigenous women have suffered these assaults in their lifetimes.
  • Indigenous women homicide victims have increased since 1991 while the number of murdered non-Indigenous women has declined.
  • Indigenous women are twice as likely to experience violence from their current or former partner. A little more than 13% experience violence from their current or ex-partner, a proportion twice as high as non-Indigenous people (5.7%).