Government of Canada Takes Action to End Violence against Women and Girls on University and College Campuses

HAMILTON, ON, Nov. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, David Sweet , Member of Parliament for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, today announced funding to Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and Area (SACHA) to engage young people in addressing violence against women on university and college campuses. Parliamentarians throughout Canada joined Minister Ambrose in announcing their projects locally.

"Our Government is taking action to address violence against women on university and college campuses across Canada," said Minister Ambrose. "We are pleased to support projects that will help make university and college communities safer for everyone."

The Government of Canada is providing 21 organizations with close to $4 million to carry out projects that tackle a wide range of issues related to violence against female students, such as sexual assault and harassment. Organizations will work with college and university campus communities to carry out their projects.

"Our government remains committed to ending violence against women," said MP David Sweet. "This promising new project will improve the safety and security in our campus community."

The Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and Area (SACHA) is receiving $200,000 in funding for a project to support students at McMaster University. SACHA will complete a safety audit on campus to improve and inform existing and future policies so that they continue to meet the needs of the community. The results will include an ongoing campus community protocol to help prevent violence against women.

"The Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton and Area), in partnership with YWCA Hamilton, is thrilled to work with McMaster University to address and prevent violence against young women on campus," said Ms. Lenore Lukasik-Foss, Director, Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton and Area). "Working together, we can enhance young women's safety within the campus community."

"McMaster University is pleased to partner with the Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton and Area) and the YWCA Hamilton on this important project," said Dr. Phil Wood, Associate Vice-President (Student Affairs) and Dean of Students, McMaster University. "McMaster has long standing partnerships with groups both on and off-campus to ensure a safe and supportive environment at the University and we look forward to completing this project."

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting projects that yield concrete results for women and girls in Canada while strengthening families, communities and the country. Through Status of Women Canada, the government's support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, from $10.8 million to close to $19 million, its highest level ever. Since 2007, more than $54 million in federal funding has been approved for projects that seek to address violence against women and girls.

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Backgrounder 

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Organizations receiving funding under the call for proposals - Engaging Young People to Prevent Violence against Women on Post-Secondary Campuses:

Corner Brook Status of Women Council (CBSWC), Corner Brook, NL;
Mount Allison Students' Union, Sackville, NB;
Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, Inc. (FSACC), Fredericton NB;
Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne Inc., Paquetville, NB;
Antigonish Women's Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association, Antigonish, NS;
Association chrétienne des jeunes femmes de Montréal (Y des femmes/YWCA Montréal), Montréal, QC;
La Pointe du jour CALACS Sept-Îles, Sept-Îles, QC;
Interim Place, Mississauga, ON;
Ottawa Coalition to End Violence against Women, Ottawa, ON;
Scarborough Women's Centre, Scarborough, ON;
Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and Area (SACHA), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON;
Urban Alliance on Race Relations, Toronto, ON;
Yellow Brick House, Richmond Hill, ON;
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, Kitchener, ON;
Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, Edmonton, AB;
Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, Edmonton, AB;
University of Alberta, Student's Union, Edmonton, AB;
YWCA Lethbridge and District, Lethbridge, AB;
Alberni Community and Women's Services Society, Port Alberni, BC;
MOSAIC (Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities), Vancouver, BC;
Royal Roads University Student Association, Victoria, BC.

These organizations will work with college and/or university campuses in their communities.

SOURCE: Status of Women Canada

Amber Irwin
Press Secretary
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
     Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
613 995-7839

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