UN Committee Calls on Canada to Eliminate Indian Act’s 2nd Generation Cut-off

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has urged Canada to address gender-based discrimination within the Indian Act, particularly the “second generation cut-off,” which limits the transmission of Indian status across generations. The committee’s recommendations follow its recent review of Canada’s compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. First Nations leaders, including Heiltsuk Elected Chief Marilyn Slett, welcomed the UN’s focus on the issue, emphasizing the need for legislative amendments to remove barriers against Indigenous women and their descendants.

The committee also called for Canada to accelerate efforts on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) report’s Calls for Justice and to provide core funding for Indigenous women’s organizations. The federal government has proposed Bill C-38 to address certain discriminatory provisions, with consultations on further reforms expected in late 2024.