Madame Deputy Speaker, the ACDP wishes to join the other parties in expressing our condolences to the family and friends of Cheryl Gillwald today. It is clear from the tributes that Cheryl was devoted to her country and her fellow men and women. It is particularly regrettable that Cheryl passed away in her early 50s. I was shocked to learn that she died of cancer at the end of July at a very young age.
I had the honour of getting to know Cheryl when I served on the Justice and Constitutional Development and the Correctional Services portfolio committees when she was the Deputy Minister. She was firm and resolute in her attempts to bring about order to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of Correctional Services at a time when the Jali Commission of Inquiry had issued a scathing report on the department.
But she was also very gracious in responding to my parliamentary questions on both departments. She was very unassuming as well. I remember seeing her at the airport one day awaiting a family member, alone, with no entourage, and it was wonderful to engage her on an informal basis.
The ACDP acknowledges the major contribution she has made, both as a Deputy Minister and through her efforts to improve the lives of women and children. She has been credited with being responsible for the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children. I looked up her speech on 16 November 2005 when she launched her campaign. She stated:
We need to unify across race, class and gender, across political, urban and rural divide to fight the scourge of violence against women and children.
It is significant that she already, at that stage, challenged us to turn the event into a 365-day event.
That is why words of condolences and comfort to her family and friends today are necessary. I have no doubt that she would have preferred that we as MPs rise to a challenge of fighting violence against women and children, not only for 16 days, but for the full 365 days of the year. Let us do that in her remembrance, particularly as we embark on Women's Month this week. Our prayers and thoughts are with her family and friends during this time of mourning. I thank you.