GOVERNMENT OF CANADA CALLS FOR AN END TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

OTTAWA, Nov. 25 /CNW/ - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, today called on Canadians to work together to end violence against women.

"This day represents an opportunity for us to remember the countless women and girls - in Canada and throughout the world - for whom violence and the threat of violence are an unfortunate reality," said Minister Ambrose. "Violence against women affects all of us. It destroys families and weakens the fabric of our society. As a population, it takes a heavy toll on our communities and our economy."

November 25 was designated as the annual date for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in commemoration of the murder of the Mirabal sisters - Patria, Maria and Antonia - in the Dominican Republic in 1960. Worldwide it also marks the beginning of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, which encompass Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women on December 6 and conclude with International Human Rights Day on December 10.

"Every day, millions of girls and women worldwide suffer various forms of violence, including domestic assault, genital mutilation, human trafficking, so-called 'honour killings' and gender-based war crimes," said Minister Ambrose. "I call on all Canadians - women and men, girls and boys - to work collaboratively to end all forms of violence against women. The involvement of men and boys in this process is unequivocally important, and I believe that by working together, we can make it happen."

The Government of Canada has taken significant steps to protect the safety of girls and women, including:

• appealing an Ontario superior court decision to strike down Canada's prostitution laws;
• improving availability of testimonial aids for vulnerable adult victims/witnesses including women who have experienced violence;
• ending the use of "house arrest" for offences involving serious personal injury;
• increasing mandatory minimum penalties for serious offences where a firearm is used;
• strengthening the peace bond provisions concerning those previously convicted of sexual offences against children;
• raising the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16 years to protect young people, including girls, from sexual exploitation by adult predators;
• launching a $10 million strategy to help address the disturbing number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women;
• building on its Budget 2006 investment in the Federal Victims Strategy, providing $6.6 million over two years in Budget 2010 to enhance support to victims of crime; and
• launching a new citizenship guide that articulates the Canadian principles of fair and equal treatment of women and girls.

For additional information, please visit Status of Women Canada's web site at: www.swc-cfc.gc.ca.

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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 819 997-5421

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