One day after Senator Heitkamp and the NIWRC promoted their efforts to bring #MMIW awareness through the #NotInvisible hashtag and the Savanna’s Law bill, Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand traveled to Ottawa, Canada on Thursday, Nov. 30, to lead the U.S. delegation in the Trilateral Summit on Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls.

This is the second meeting of the trilateral working group.The first was hosted by the U.S. in 2016 and next year’s meeting will be in 2018, hosted by Mexico.

Associate Attorney General Brand met with Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Canada’s Crown-Indigenous and Northern Affairs and Ismerai Betanzos Ordaz, Indigenous Rights Coordinator, Mexican Commission on the Development of Indigenous Rights.

“Tackling the issue of violence against Indigenous women and girls in our region and in the U.S. is not only a matter of criminal justice, but a moral imperative,” said Associate Attorney General Brand.

According the release by the DOJ, “The Department of Justice remains committed to addressing violence against indigenous women and girls in all of its forms through aggressive law enforcement and programs that serve victims.”

“The Department is committed to working with our international partners to share information and develop capabilities to address cross-border crimes like sex and labor trafficking together.”

Associate Attorney General Brand’s visit supports the Justice Department’s continuing efforts under the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety.

According to the release, “The Department of Justice remains committed to addressing violence against indigenous women and girls in all of its forms through aggressive law enforcement and programs that serve victims. The Department is committed to working with our international partners to share information and develop capabilities to address cross-border crimes like sex and labor trafficking together.”

Read the full DOJ press release here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/readout-associate-attorney-general-rachel-brand-trip-ottawa-canada-trilateral-summit-violence

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