LONDON, ON, March 8, 2013 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, Joe Preston, Member of Parliament (Elgin-Middlesex-London) today announced Government of Canada support for a new project to improve the safety of women and girls in the London area.
"The Harper Government is committed to eliminating violence against women and girls," said Minister Ambrose. "Our government has been working with communities to improve the safety and security of women - funding hundreds of projects across Canada to end violence against women and girls."
"I am pleased to announce on International Women's Day that our Government is supporting this new project to address violence against women and girls in our community," said Mr. Preston. "It will make a real difference by increasing the safety of women and girls here in the London area."
The Changing Ways organization is receiving $145,000 in support for a 24-month project to engage men and boys in ending violence against women and girls. The target population is boys and girls in grades 7-10 and their parents in London and St. Thomas, Ontario. Through the project, participants will identify promising practices and develop and pilot an approach that engages boys and young men in ending violence against women and girls. Engagement tactics will include the use of social media to enhance awareness of the issues.
"Changing Ways is committed to doing all it can to help end violence against women and girls" said Tim Kelly, Executive Director of the organization. "We are pleased to partner with Status of Women Canada on this project to identify promising practices that we can use to engage boys and young men in reducing and preventing gender-based violence in our community."
This project is being supported under Status of Women Canada's recent Call for Proposals Working Together: Engaging communities to end violence against women and girls. It aligns with the specific theme of engaging men and boys in ending violence against women and girls.
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, close to $57 million dollars in funding has been approved for projects to end violence against women and girls.
Canada's 2013 theme for International Women's Week and International Women's Day is Working Together: Engaging Men to End Violence against Women. International Women's Week takes place this year from March 3 to 9, with International Women's Day on March 8.
SOURCE: Status of Women Canada
For media inquiries only:
Michelle Bakos
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Works and
Government Services and
Minister for Status of Women
819 997-5421
For all other inquiries, contact:
Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General
Communications and
Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
613 995-7839
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For news releases and information on Status of Women Canada, go to women.gc.ca
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