Harper Government Supports Project to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls in Montréal

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 2, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities, and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, today announced Government of Canada support for a project that will promote the prevention of violence against women and girls in Montréal.

"Our Government is making safer and stronger communities a priority, said Minister Lebel. "Through this project, Women in Cities International will work with a range of partners, including community members and municipal agencies, to help prevent gender-based violence."

"Our Government is committed to protecting women and girls from violence," said Minister Leitch. "We are holding offenders accountable for their actions, and supporting community-based projects across Canada that address violence against women."

Women in Cities International is receiving $190,440 in funding from the Government of Canada for a project that engages women and other members of the community in the Parc-Extension neighbourhood of Montréal. The organization will explore best practices used in other areas of Montréal to improve violence prevention activities in the neighborhood. Through the project, women and girls will identify factors that increase the risk of gender-based violence, by using a variety of methods, such as conducting safety audits.

"With this Government of Canada support, and the help and input of valuable partners, we will improve the violence prevention model within our community," said Marisa Canuto, Executive Director, Women in Cities International. "The Parc-Extension neighbourhood will be safer, and its citizens will be more connected and informed - results that will help to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls."

The Harper Government is supporting this project through Status of Women Canada's call for proposals, Working Together: Engaging Communities to End Violence against Women and Girls. Through Status of Women Canada, federal support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, supporting more than 600 projects across Canada. Since that time, over $62 million dollars in funding has been approved for projects to end violence against women and girls.

From November 25, 2013 until December 10, 2013, the Government of Canada is marking 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. This includes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, Canada's  National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6, and International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2013.

SOURCE: Status of Women Canada

For media inquiries only:

Barbara Mottram
Director of Communications
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]
Fax: [phone]

For all other inquiries, contact:

Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications
and Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
Tel:  [phone]

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