Harper Government provides funding to prevent cyberviolence in New Brunswick

New project will support young women and girls in New Brunswick communities

FREDERICTON, July 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Susan Truppe, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women, on behalf of 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 Government of Canada support for a new project that will work to prevent cyberviolence against young women and girls in New Brunswick.

The New Brunswick Association of Social Workers (NBASW) is receiving $175,000 for its two-year project to address the institutional barriers that limit the ability of communities in New Brunswick to respond to cyberviolence. Through this project, the organization will engage key stakeholders and young women and girls living in communities across the province. The organization will work with service providers to facilitate the sharing of information and best practices, and will develop strategies to promote an improved and coordinated response to cyberviolence across New Brunswick.

NBASW received funding under Status of Women Canada's Call for Proposals entitled Cyber and Sexual Violence: Helping Communities Respond. As a result of this call, $2.5 million has been provided for projects that address cyberviolence.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada has introduced Bill C-13, the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, which would make it a criminal offence to distribute intimate images without the consent of the person depicted.

• Last January, our government also launched a national anti-cyberbullying public awareness campaign called Stop Hating Online, to raise awareness among Canadians of the impact of cyberbullying, and to identify when this behaviour amounts to criminal activity.

• Since 2007, through Status of Women Canada, the Government of Canada has invested more than $69 million in projects to end violence against women and girls.

• Through Status of Women Canada, the government's support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, supporting over 720 projects in total.

Quotes

"Our Government is committed to ensuring that our streets and communities are safe for all Canadians. Cyberviolence is a serious issue affecting Canadians across the country, including women and girls. We will continue to work together with community organizations to stand up for victims of crime, including cyberviolence."  

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

"Violence against women and girls has a terrible impact on individuals, families and communities. Our Government is proud to be a partner on this project, which will support victims of cyberviolence and help prevent future abuses."  

Susan Truppe
Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women  

"Young women and girls in New Brunswick will benefit greatly from this project, which will explore the prevalence of cyberviolence in the province and put strategies in place to address it. The result will be safer online communities for all of us."  

The Honourable Keith Ashfield
Member of Parliament for Fredericton  

"We are proud to work with the Government of Canada on this project. Our goal is to give communities across New Brunswick the tools and knowledge they need to respond effectively to cyberviolence against women and girls. This project will help us to maximize existing resources and develop new strategies that target the specific needs of the communities we serve."  

Miguel Leblanc, Executive Director/Directeur général
New Brunswick Association of Social Workers  

Related Products

• Cyber and Sexual Violence: Helping Communities Respond

Additional Links

• Information about Status of Women Canada at women.gc.ca
• Information about the Stop Hating Online campaign

Ce texte est également disponible en français.

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

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]