Minister Leitch announces project to reduce violence against women and girls

OTTAWA, Nov 28, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, along with Roxanne James, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, and Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre, today announced a project that will reduce violence against women and girls. The Minister's announcement took place during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

The White Ribbon Campaign is receiving $300,000 for a 36-month project to create a community of practice in partnership with nine organizations across the country. The organizations will share best practices and lessons learned related to their current work in engaging men and boys in ending violence against women and girls. White Ribbon will then create an online toolkit for engaging men and boys which will be shared throughout the country.

Quick Facts

• The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence take place from November 25 to December 10, and include Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6.
• The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was established by Canada's Parliament in 1991 to ensure Canadians would never forget the tragic deaths of 14 young women who were murdered at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal on December 6, 1989. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this tragedy.
• Since 2007, the Government of Canada has provided more than $146 million through Status of Women Canada for community-based projects. Of this amount, more than $70 million has gone to projects to prevent and end violence against women girls. This includes projects that address many forms of violence, including violence against Aboriginal women, human trafficking, harmful cultural practices, and cyberviolence.

Quotes

"Our Government is committed to ending violence against women and girls, and supporting victims. That's why we fund community-based projects across the country to engage men and boys in being part of the solution. By working together, we can end violence against women and girls once and for all."

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

"I am proud of our Government's actions to make communities safer for women and girls across the country. This partnership with the White Ribbon Campaign is another example of the Government of Canada doing just that, by taking concrete actions to end all forms of violence against women and girls."

Roxanne James
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
M.P. for Scarborough Centre

"At White Ribbon, we work with men and boys to prevent violence against women and girls by promoting gender equality and challenging outmoded ideas of what makes a man. We are pleased to collaborate with the Government of Canada on this project that will allow organizations to share expertise and best practices in engaging men and boys to prevent gender-based violence."

Todd Minerson
Executive Director of the White Ribbon Campaign

Additional Links
Information about Status of Women Canada at women.gc.ca
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, 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]