Government of Canada funds projects to end violence against women and girls in Atlantic Canada

This support will help address cyber and sexual violence

FREDERICTON, NB, June 25, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, along with the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Member of Parliament for Fredericton, today announced more than $750,000 in Government of Canada funding for five new projects to prevent violence against women and girls in Atlantic Canada. The announcement took place at the first meeting of the Atlantic Sexual Assault Centres, hosted by the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre.

Five organizations in Atlantic Canada will receive funding under Status of Women Canada's Call for Proposals entitled Cyber and Sexual Violence: Helping Communities Respond. Four of the projects will work to prevent and respond to sexual violence against women and girls through improved access to community services. One project will focus on preventing and eliminating cyberviolence against women and girls, including cyberbullying, Internet luring and cyberstalking.

Quick Facts

• Status of Women Canada is providing funding to the following organizations:
  • Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre ($156,897)
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre ($144,578)
  • L'Escale MadaVic ($152,854)
  • Prince Edward Island Rape and Sexual Assault Centre ($134,685)
  • New Brunswick Association of Social Workers ($175,000)

Quotes

"Violence against women and girls has a terrible impact on individuals, families and communities. We must send a strong message that these abhorrent acts of violence will not be tolerated in our society. That's why we are proud to support community-based projects that support victims and improve services that prevent and respond to cyber and sexual violence."

The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch
Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women

"Violence against women and girls can occur anywhere, including online. Our Government is working with skilled, local organizations across Atlantic Canada to prevent and respond to cyber and sexual violence in the communities where women work and live. "

The Honourable Keith Ashfield
Member of Parliament for Fredericton

"This Government of Canada support allows us to work closely with our partners here in Fredericton and across the Atlantic provinces to share promising practices and improve the way we respond to sexual violence and support victims."

Lorraine Whalley, Executive Director
Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre

Related Products

• Cyber and Sexual Violence: Helping Communities Respond

Additional Links

• Information About Status of Women Canada at women.gc.ca

Ce texte est également disponible en français

For news releases and information on Status of Women Canada, go to women.gc.ca.

Backgrounder

As part of the recent Call for Proposals, Cyber and Sexual Violence: Helping Communities Respond, the Government of Canada has supported the following projects in Atlantic Canada: 

Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre

• The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre will receive $156,897 for its two-year project to engage communities in preventing sexual violence against women and girls.  Under the project, the organization will create an Atlantic Network by building collaboration between sexual assault centres located in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. This network will work together to identify needs, gaps, and promising practices.  A strategy to address sexual violence will also be piloted with local partners in Fredericton, with the aim of improving the coordination of services that respond to sexual violence.

Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis Prevention Centre

• The Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis Prevention Centre will receive $144,578 for its two-year project to improve services for female victims of sexual violence by building collaboration between service providers in the Avalon region of Newfoundland. The project will see the creation of Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Networks in communities across the region, which will allow service providers to share promising practices for responding to sexual violence.

L'Escale MadaVic

• L'Escale MadaVic will receive $152,854 for its two-year project to prevent sexual violence against women in northwestern New Brunswick by enhancing collaboration between community agencies and service providers. Under the project, the organization will develop a collaboration strategy, test best practices, and create a service protocol to improve support services for female victims.

Prince Edward Island Rape and Sexual Assault Centre

• The Prince Edward Island Rape and Sexual Assault Centre will receive $134,685 for its two-year project to improve services for female victims of sexual violence by building collaboration between stakeholders.  Under the project, the organization will develop a collaboration strategy to improve access to services, facilitate information sharing, and create a multi-community network to pilot promising practices. The strategy will include the development of a protocol for responding to victims, which will ensure that victims across the Island receive consistent information.

New Brunswick Association of Social Workers

• The New Brunswick Association of Social Workers will receive $175,000 for its two-year project to address institutional barriers that limit the ability of communities in New Brunswick to address cyberviolence against young women and girls. The project will engage stakeholders in developing strategies and coordinating their efforts to address cyberviolence.

SOURCE: Status of Women Canada

For media inquiries only: Andrew McGrath, Press Secretary, Office of the Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, P.C., O.Ont., M.P., Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, Tel: [phone]; For all other inquiries: Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director General, Communications and Public Affairs, Status of Women Canada, Tel: [phone]