WHO IS AT RISK? More than 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk for FGM annually. More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and west where FGM is concentrated. The practice is most common in the Western, Eastern, and North-Eastern regions of Africa, in some countries the Middle East and west as well as among migrants from these areas. FGM is therefore a global concern. FGM is recognized Marsabit County as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. Types of female genital mutilation Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. In 1997, WHO classified female genital mutilation into four different types? Since then, experience with using this classification revealed the need to subdivide these categories, to capture the varieties of FGM in more detail. Severity (which here corresponds to the amount of tissue damaged) and health risk are closely related to the type of FGM performed as well as the amount of tissue that is cut. The four major types of FGM, and their subtypes, are: Type I. Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans (the external and visible part of the clitoris, which is a sensitive part of the female genitals, with the function of providing sexual pleasure to the woman), and/or the prepuce/clitoral hood (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoral glans). When it is important to distinguish between the major variations of Type I FGM, the following subdivisions are used: Type Ia. Removal of the prepuce/clitoral hood only. Type Ib. Removal of the clitoral glans with the prepuce/clitoral hood. Type II. Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora (the inner folds of the vulva), with or without removal of the labia majora (the outer folds of skin of the vulva). When it is important to distinguish between the major variations of Type II FGM, the following subdivisions are used: Type IIa. Removal of the labia minora only. Type IIb. Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora (prepuce/clitoral hood may be affected). Type IIc. Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans, the labia minora and the labia majora (prepuce/clitoral hood may be affected). Type III. (Often referred to as infibulation). Narrowing of the vaginal opening with the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora, or labia majora. The covering of the vaginal opening is done with or without removal of the clitoral prepuce/clitoral hood and glans (Type I FGM). When it is important to distinguish between variations of Type III FGM, the following subdivisions are used: Type IIIa. Removal and repositioning of the labia minora. Type IIIb. Removal and repositioning of the labia majora. Type IV. All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization. Deinfibulation refers to the practice of cutting open the sealed vaginal opening of a woman who has been infibulated (Type III). This is often done to allow sexual intercourse or to facilitate childbirth, and is often necessary for improving the woman’s health and well-being. Despite the health risks, some women undergo a narrowing of their vaginal opening again after being deinfibulated, at the time of childbirth – meaning that they may undergo a series of repeated infibulations and deinfibulations throughout the life-course.

Ppl are being evicted from their homes from late payments or none payments

Currently, the majority of Canadians with disabilities are living 30-40% below the poverty line, and find themselves making hard choices every month between paying for food, bills, transportation or paying for medications that are not covered. Over the last two decades, despite the rate of inflation, the programs meant to assist people with disabilities have not kept up leaving them to struggle more and more each year to make ends meet. Imagine having to decide whether you can afford personal hygiene products or not, or if you can afford soap to wash yourself or if you can afford cleaning products? These are just a few of the decisions faced every day by those with disabilities. Most Canadians with disabilities are lucky if they get a singular meal every day, that being with the assistance of food banks and other social programs which often cant provide for special dietary needs. None of these services are able to keep up with actual demand, despite large sums of money doled out by federal and provincial governments, especially now with many other Canadians facing financial hardships. With a lack of affordable housing and skyrocketing rental rates, many Canadians with disabilities are finding themselves having to give up their independence and consider cohabitating, or are finding themselves living in rentals that are often derelict with landlords and management that do not maintain the units or premises. Many are also facing discrimination when searching for rentals, being met with ads that state that those on specific provincial programs need not apply, or outright telling applicants that they don't rent to those on provincial programs. People living with disabilities need proper financial and social supports to ensure the best quality of life possible despite their disability. Living so far below the poverty line often means that people with disabilities end up with chronic illness, added mental health issues that would have not otherwise impacted their lives had they been in a position to afford healthy meals without sacrificing possible treatments and vice-versa. By providing an income nearer to the poverty line, Canadians with disabilities would be in a position to help themselves, rather than rely on already heavily burdened services, would allow then to ensure adequate living arrangements, as well as participate in society to an extent only dreamed of. Giving Canadians with disabilities financial assistance won't only benefit them, but will also benefit the economy, as finances will be injected directly back into circulation on basic necessities. This has already been proven through the CCB. For every 1$ disbursed through the program has translated to 1.97$ contributed to the GPD. Canadians with disabilities deserve better, deserve to live rather than try to survive and in a first world country such as ours, legislated poverty imposed on those with disabilities should not exist.

We must decolonise our societies in order to increase equality and reduce systemic oppression. Having such a major street on unceded indigenous land is a slap in the face and is a tacit approval of genocide, racism and colonialism.

In most Toronto neighbourhoods, my partner and I feel safe walking hand in hand. This is our home and we feel comfortable living our lives openly and freely. But, knowing Chick-fil-A's long history of donating to homophobic and racist organizations and politicians, we DO NOT feel safe walking by the location at the intersection of Bloor and Yonge. This restaurant is so close to the Village, it's on the Pride Parade route! We need to send a clear message that this is not okay. First Capital - you can drape yourself in the rainbow flag, but it means nothing if you continue to rent to a company hostile to our community's existence.

There is clear evidence and research that we must organize public safety very differently, especially for our Black, Indigenous and other marginalized communities.To do this we need a strong catalyst to ensure this happens in a timely manner. The reduction of the police budget and reallocation to a range of community services led by mental health and other community leaders can be this catalyst. Any attempts to reform within the police budget and led by the police, as evidenced by the last five years in Toronto, will not produce tangible, timely and necessary results. Mayors in New York, Los Angeles and Minneapolis have committed to this. As reported in the Globe and Mail June 18 the Mayor states "there is unprecedented consensus on confronting anti-Black racism". However he and the Board Chair are proposing changes within the current budget and under the purview of the Toronto Police. We are asking the Mayor and Board Chair to approve Councillor Matlow's motion to reduce the budget by 10%, restructure the police and hand over a number of the current duties to the appropriate community services and leaders. This is a small amount in a $1.22 billion budget. Many organizations are facing the challenge of managing reduced budgets/revenues of greater amounts with the current COVID virus. Surely the Toronto Police can do the same. Recent events, research and statements by many leaders are well documented in the media and confirm that there is systemic racism in our police forces against our Black, Indigenous and other marginalized communities. It is also well documented that significant, not incremental change is required. Approximately 25%+ of my property taxes goes to the police budget and a very small amount to community services. No one has asked me, a tax paying resident, if that is where I would like a large portion of my taxes allocated. I have also had a personal experience with Toronto police practices in that my son-in-law, an African American university educated social worker helping youth at risk in downtown Toronto was carded twice for no apparent reason within his first 6-12 months of moving to Toronto. I was deeply ashamed of our city. Many citizens, community leaders and research agree change is required and much of that change to strengthen public safety for our Black, Indigenous and other communities must include the removal of many duties from police and given to a range of community services. To leave the change in the hands of the police will result in slow, incremental change, if any.

We must decolonise our societies in order to increase equality and reduce systemic oppression. Having such a major street on unceded indigenous land is a slap in the face and is a tacit approval of genocide, racism and colonialism.

An overhaul in education and accurate historical representation are essential to demonstrate a commitment to dismantling systems of white supremacy and colonization. May this step facilitate healing and be the first step of many we take to actively begin creating a more just and peaceful future for ALL.

I believe that it is important to have enough to survive,having to go without some foods or clothes because you have so little money.

In his time as a Member of Parliament, Benjamin Vaughan tried to persuade other MPs to continue the practice of slavery which is based on the ideology of domination and superiority over another race- at a time when others were actively abolishing it. It is shameful that we uphold these people as heroes in our communities by naming cities after them and declaring civic holidays in honour of them. Language, names and declarations of honourable historical figures matter! The community is speaking out and we'd like to organize with a petition. We need to stand up against people like Benjamin Vaughan who have made decisions as politicians and everyday humans that have caused trauma, violence and even death for Black, Indigenous and people of colour. A small step in the right direction, a potential answer to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's many Calls to Action from our First Nations, Métis and Inuit people across the country, and a drop in the vast ocean of work left to do in creating an anti-racist city of "Vaughan".

The legacy of Henry Dundas, First Viscount Melville is highly problematic. As the MP for Midlothian in Westminster and as Secretary of State he actively participated in obstructing the abolition of slavery in the British Empire from 1791 to the end of his political career in 1806. Slavery was eventually abolished in 1833 and officially in British North America in 1834. But Dundas' actions to preserve the profiteering of his friends in the slave trade, cost tens of thousands of lives, if not more. Also, he was the last British MP to be impeached - for embezzlement and misappropriation of funds - though not convicted. If we truly wish for our public street names and monuments to reflect our values and priorities we must consider engaging the public in the process of excising those names which are no longer worthy of our honor or respect. Names such as that of Henry Dundas. It's extremely important this street name changes.

We must decolonise our societies in order to increase equality and reduce systemic oppression. Having such a major street on unceded indigenous land is a slap in the face and is a tacit approval of genocide, racism and colonialism.