Trachoma is a highly contagious and blinding disease which occurs in 57 countries and destroys the lives of around 40 million people. Globally trachoma costs over 2.8 billion dollars in lost income. Unnecessarily, as trachoma is easy to treat and prevent with the right medicines and hygiene rules. Overall, Africa is the most affected continent: 27.8 million cases of active trachoma. Roughly half of the global burden of active trachoma is concentrated in 5 countries Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Uganda and Sudan

Trachoma is one of the many so-called neglected diseases in the tropics which dozens of non-governmental organisations are currently fighting throughout the world. Pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer, have donated over 145 million doses for trachoma control, but even with donations the cost is too high for some of the poorest in the world to be treated. Worldwide, every 4 minutes, 1 person experiences severe sight loss and every hour, 4 people become blind. I want to start by telling you the story of Mrs. Alehegn. Mrs. Alehegn was a strong young woman when she started to develop trachoma, or “hair in the eye” as it is known in East Africa.

The pain made it impossible for her to cook over smoky dung fires, hike to distant wells for water or work in dusty fields, the essential duties of a wife. The disease caused her relationship with her husband to deteriorate until he left her for a healthy woman.  “When I stopped getting up in the morning to do the housecleaning, when I stopped helping with the farm work, we started fighting.”For fifteen years Mrs. Alehegn suffered, every blink of the eye would feel like thorns scrapping her eyes. She would pluck the hairs of her inturned eyelids only to have them grow back more coarse, more debilitating.

Yet, with the help of her daughter, she persevered until she could scrounge up enough money from her meager income to get the surgery. For fifteen years she needlessly suffered to overcome a disease that is preventable and treatable.  When Mrs. Alehegn’s ex husband was asked why he left her, he said that he too had begun to develop “hair in the eye.”He too had been forced to stop working, if they had not separated they would have both become completely blind and died. A hard working wife would provide him the income he needs to be able to afford the life saving surgery.” If we had not been sick” he said sadly, “we would have raised our children together.”

The World Health Organization estimates that with the right help, trachoma can be eradicated by 2020.

Our government, our country, Canadians can be part of eradicating this debilitating disease.

As Chair of the Human Rights Committee, I witness many touching and insightful stories to help the Senate stay informed on issues that Canadians face from all walks of life. Monday was no exception.

Professor Sara Davis Buechner, Associate Professor of Music at the University of British Columbia appeared to be a poised, successful, and kind woman; however, after hearing the hardships she faced during her transition period as a transgender person we were convinced of her unfaltering courage.

After graduating from the Julliard School in 1984, her professional life was flawless. She performed as a solo pianist with many of the world’s leading orchestras, played for the likes of President and Mrs. Clinton and was acknowledged by President Ronald Reagan for her outstanding achievements. She traveled the world and made 50 appearances a year. Unfortunately, her personal life was a different story.

At the age of 37 after a lifetime of questioning, Professor Buechner decided to transition to her core gender, which is female. Although her outward appearance changed, her musical talent remained unblemished. Yet, she lost her job, was ridiculed and denied the right to legally change her name, and was the victim of an attempted date rape. She never reported the attempted date rape to the police because, in her own words, “I assumed they would think that I deserved what I got”.

Professor Buechner’s story illustrates that although Canadians deeply value equality and diversity and appreciate the mosaic we are, the discrimination against certain groups still goes unnoticed. The median incomes for trans Ontarians is $15,000 a year, despite reasonably high levels of education; 74% of trans Canadian youth  have been verbally assaulted because of their gender identity and expression; and 43% of trans people have attempted suicide at one point in their lives.

We must take proactive steps to fight the stigma around minority groups and explicitly recognize transgender rights to make these issues visible. By adding gender identity as a specific basis of prohibited discrimination under the framework of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Bill C-279 will be a long overdue step in the right direction to protect the rights of all Canadians.

I have dedicated my life and career to advancing the rights of women and yet quite often I am reminded of how far we still have to go. Nothing reminds me of this more of this in Canada then our missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

According to Canadian Police Information Centre there are 1,559 missing women cases in Canada. Sisters In Spirit, a research, education and policy initiative facilitated by the Native Women’s Association of Canada and funded by the Government of Canada until its dismantling in 2010, reported that there are more than 582 missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. This number reflects the fact that Aboriginal women are 3 times more likely to experience partner violence than non-Aboriginal women.

What is it about numbers that make us feel so numb? Why did it take such high numbers for any action? 582 lives have been stolen and we remain paralyzed despite the fact that ‘missing’ and ‘murdered’ may involve rape, assault, pain, torture, and, most definitely, fear. No words can effectively articulate the horror these women have faced.

When women are targeted and not assured the necessary levels of protection in the face of that violence, a range of their fundamental human rights are at stake: the right to life, the right to be protected against torture and ill treatment, the right to security of the person and the right to both sexual and racial equality.

Despite desperate cries for a national commission of inquiry into Canada’s missing and murdered Aboriginal women, the federal government continues to belittle the issue, opting instead for funding dedicated to police initiatives that track missing persons in general, and a special committee to examine the issues of missing Aboriginal women. This response by the federal government remains insufficient considering the scale and severity of this tragedy; Canada needs big, bold moves. Only a national commission of inquiry will be thorough enough to facilitate long-lasting, positive change. National commissions of inquiry are led by distinguished individuals, experts or judges, and have the power to subpoena witnesses, take evidence under oath and request documents. Although a commission of inquiry’s findings and recommendations are not binding, many have a significant impact on public opinion and the shape of public policy. A national commission of inquiry is the best vehicle to ensure the rights of Aboriginal women and girls across Canada are protected.

Please join me in supporting a national commission of inquiry into Canada’s missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

As many of you are aware, Kinew James, a 35-year-old federally sentenced Aboriginal woman, died at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon on January 20^th, 2013. Ms. James had mental health needs, having admitted to self-harming behaviour and had threatened to hang herself while incarcerated at Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ontario. And while Ms. James’ story is tragic, her struggle to obtain the mental health services she required is far from unique.

Canadian Aboriginal women comprise 4% of the Canadian female population, yet are disproportionally represented in our federal correctional institution, comprising 32% of federally sentenced women. Aboriginal women also disproportionally represent federally sentenced women with mental health needs.

Cultural oppression, racism, and marginalization, compounded by disturbing rates of long-term mental, physical and sexual abuse, and overwhelming rates of poverty make Aboriginal females more susceptible to mental health illnesses and to engage in violent criminal behaviour. When they enter federal correctional institutions they are more likely to be categorized as severely dependent on alcohol, and are more likely to self-harm.

Despite substantive research, which shows that federally sentenced Aboriginal women are disproportionately likely to face mental health issues, we continue to treat them simply as criminals, unworthy of compassion or respect, rather than individuals with their own human rights, victims of a system that is designed to see them fail.

By expanding mental health services in our correctional institutions, we have an opportunity to change this reality. When designing mental health services, we need to ensure that programs and services are created in collaboration with Aboriginal communities, and that they are tailored to specifically address the mental health needs of Aboriginal women. Emphasis should be placed on individualized programming so that each patient has their own healing plan. Healing plans should include institutional services, skills development, treatment and cultural programs, and incorporate balance, individual autonomy, non-coercion, collectivism, interconnectedness, and healing. Each facility should provide access to Aboriginal staff, culturally-sensitive training for all staff members, culturally-relevant programs, access to Aboriginal forms of healing, and access to Aboriginal elders.

We have a duty, a moral and legal obligation, to ensure that federally sentenced Aboriginal women with mental health needs are provided their entitled healthcare.