August 1, 2013 (Ottawa, ON) - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), are working together to raise awareness about the dangers of hitchhiking. They will distribute a new poster which outlines steps to increase one’s safety when hitchhiking.
The poster does not encourage hitchhiking but is designed to highlight safety measures for individuals who do hitchhike. Hitchhiking is common practice in many rural or remote communities across the nation. Individuals may hitchhike because it is the only way that travel is financially possible. Many hitchhikers may live in areas where public transportation does not exist, or operates on a very limited schedule.
The RCMP will make this poster available through its Aboriginal Policing Sections across Canada, in French and English. NWAC will distribute the poster through its provincial and territorial member associations and community networks across the country.
NWAC supports this poster campaign as part of its focus on preventing violence and increasing the safety of Aboriginal women and girls. NWAC President Michèle Audette stated, “We know that sometimes women or youth will hitchhike: it may be the only travel option that they have at that moment. We care for their well-being, and want to ensure that they trust their instincts and practice the suggested safety measures.”
The RCMP, through this cooperative effort with NWAC, is dedicated to raising awareness about the possible dangers of hitchhiking to reduce incidents of missing and in some instances, murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Assistant Commissioner Janice Armstrong, RCMP Contract and Aboriginal Policing commented, “The RCMP hopes that this poster will sensitize communities to further protect their young women. This initiative speaks to the RCMP’s dedication to keeping individuals safe in communities throughout Canada.”
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