The Royal Canadian Legion fully supports the recommendations outlined in the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) report titled Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans. Women who serve need to know that they matter, that abuse will not be tolerated, that they will receive care and support if injured and that the process to receive that care and support shows compassion and respect.
OTTAWA, ON, June 12, 2024 – The Royal Canadian Legion fully supports the recommendations outlined in the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) report titled Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans.
This landmark report, the largest ever carried out by the Committee, records for the first time the lived experiences of over 50 women Veterans with service from today to over the past 40 years. Their statements describe the horrific sexual abuse female CAF and RCMP Members and Veterans endured, the abuse of authority and the discrimination they suffered.
The testimony overwhelming highlighted how women Veterans have encountered barriers and challenges to have their service-related injuries recognized by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) for access to care, support and benefits. The lack of acknowledgment of the physical and mental injuries resulting from their service left many women feeling invisible and feeling they are not a Veteran.
“The 42 recommendations in the ACVA report provide a starting point for the CAF, RCMP and VAC to finally be held accountable for the experiences and wounds these Veterans carry,” says Legion Dominion President Bruce Julian. “Now the Government must implement these recommendations and begin the process to ensure that all women who have served, are serving and who will serve Canada receive the care and support to meet their unique health needs as a result of injuries from their service.”
The Royal Canadian Legion calls on the Government to produce an implementation plan, including a detailed timeline and defined oversight. We will monitor the progress and outcome of the report and are committed to collaborate and assist to ensure the timely implementation of all recommendations.
Women who serve need to know that they matter, that abuse will not be tolerated, that they will receive care and support if injured and that the process to receive that care and support shows compassion and respect.
The Legion stands proudly with the more than 100,000 women who served our military and RCMP forces. We invite all Canadians to stand with us to honour their service, recognize their sacrifices, and uphold their legacy.
If you or a Veteran or family of a Veteran you know needs support, the Legion’s Veterans Services Department offers a wide range of assistance, always free of charge. Canadian serving military, retired Veterans including RCMP members and their families can reach out to a Legion Command Service Office for assistance. Contact a professional Service Officer.
About The Royal Canadian Legion
Founded in 1925, the Legion is Canada’s largest Veteran support and community service organization. We are a non-profit organization with a national reach across Canada as well as branches in the U.S. and Europe. With 250,000 members, many of whom volunteer an extraordinary amount of time to their branches, our strength is in our numbers.
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