Harper Government supports projects to end violence against women and girls

MONTREAL, Oct. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, on behalf of the Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, Senator Diane Bellemare, announced Government of Canada funding to help prevent cyberviolence against women and girls in the Montreal region.

Relais-Femmes is receiving $152,466 for a project that will work to prevent cyberviolence against young women and girls in the regions of Valleyfield and Montreal. The organization will engage young women, girls, community and educational partners to work together in identifying needs and opportunities to address this issue. Strategies will then be developed and piloted to prevent cyberviolence in these communities.

Atwater Library and Computer Centre is receiving $98,060 for a project to develop and implement strategies to prevent and eliminate cyberviolence against young women and girls in Montreal. The project will engage young women and girls to identify their needs and expand their understanding of the issue. Young women will work with partners from the academic and community sectors in the development and implementation of strategies to prevent cyberviolence.

These projects are receiving funding under Status of Women Canada's Call for Proposals entitled Cyber and Sexual Violence: Helping Communities Respond. They are part of the Government of Canada's announcement that it is investing $1.1 million across Canada in projects to prevent cyberviolence against young women and girls.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada has provided over $146 million in funding through Status of Women Canada to support more than 720 projects since 2007. This includes more than $70 million for projects to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.
• 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.
• In January, 2014, the government 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.

Quotes

"Our Government is committed to ending violence against women and girls in all its forms. We proudly support community-based projects across the country that help victims and provide services that prevent cyberviolence. By targeting such violence, these projects strengthen our communities and make a positive difference in the lives of women and girls."

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

"Our Government welcomes the opportunity to work with these two important Montreal area organizations to protect young women and girls from cyberviolence. These projects are part of the concrete actions we are taking to end violence against women and girls wherever it occurs - in the home, in the community, or online."

The Honourable Diane Bellemare
Senator

"The more we can do to help young women understand cyberviolence issues, the more able we are to develop realistic solutions that help end this form of gender-based violence. We are pleased to partner with the Government of Canada on this important project so that by working together, we can make a difference for women and girls in our community."

Lynn Verge, Executive Director
The Atwater Library and Computer Centre

"This Government of Canada funding will allow us to reach out to young women in our community and help them understand cyberviolence as a local issue. It will also enable us to collaborate on practical strategies that prepare young women and girls to deal with cyberviolence they face online every day in our community."

Lise Gervais
Coordonnatrice générale
Relais-Femmes

Related Products

• Cyber and Sexual Violence: Helping Communities Respond

Additional Links

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

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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, 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], [email protected]; For all other inquiries: Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director General, Communications and Public Affairs, Status of Women Canada, Tel: [phone]