GOVERNMENT OF CANADA EMPOWERS MARGINALIZED WOMEN

TORONTO, Sept. 24 /CNW/ - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced Government of Canada support for two projects that will address the issue of ending violence against women in specific immigrant and new Canadian communities in the Greater Toronto Area.

"Our Government is committed to ending violence against women and girls in all communities across Canada," said Minister Ambrose. "These two important projects reach out to specific communities of women, empowering them to recognize and address abuse, and teaching them how to become agents of change in ending violence against women and girls."

• Latin American Women's Organization - MUJER will receive $142,650 for its project, Empower Youth Latinas in Toronto; and
• Reh'ma Community Services will receive $114,201 for its project, Shifting Burdens and Empowering Women.

To qualify for funding under the Women's Program, projects must work to promote equality and the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.

"Focusing on the Greater Toronto Area, our 36-month project will involve 90 high-risk, marginalized girls, aged 12 to 15 and of Latin American descent, who face a range of types of violence in their lives," said Ms. Alejandra Cabezas, President of the Board of Directors of the MUJER - Latin American Women's Organization. "The project will address the impact of violence on these girls, providing them with emotional and psychological support, and the tools they need to understand and deal with their trauma."

"We are very pleased to have Government of Canada support that will allow us to reach out to a very vulnerable and marginalized sector of our community," said Ms. Amra Munawar, Executive Director, Reh'ma Community Services. "Through our project, we will help to empower immigrant women and newcomers from Central Asia, addressing the issue of violence - specifically, when women are shut out of their communities as they try to escape family violence."

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting worthwhile projects like these because they yield concrete results for women and girls in Canada, while strengthening our families, our communities and our country.

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For news releases and information on Status of Women Canada, go to www.swc-cfc.gc.ca.

For further information:

Rebecca Thompson Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Public Works and     Government Services and Minister for Status of Women 613-301-5215

Nanci-Jean Waugh Director General, Communications and Strategic Planning Status of Women Canada 613-995-7839