Government of Canada funding will help end sexual violence against women in the Montréal and Montérégie regions

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 9, 2017 /CNW/ - Everyone has the right to live a life free of violence. Canada will only reach its full potential when everyone has the opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are or where they come from. That's why today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, announced a project to help prevent and address sexual violence against women in the greater Montréal area.

This project will bring together Action jeunesse de l'Ouest-de-l'Île, Justice alternative du Suroit, and Y des femmes de Montréal to increase protection measures for young women and girls who are at risk of sexual exploitation. For this 36-month project, Action jeunesse de l'Ouest-de-l'Ile is receiving $166,396, Justice alternative du Suroit is receiving $186,646, and Y des femmes de Montréal is receiving $238,491 in Government of Canada funding.

The goal of this project is to develop response strategies in rural and urban settings in the Montréal and Montérégie regions that involve various sectors. As part of the project, partners from the education, health, youth, academic and policing sectors will be invited to contribute to the development of collaborative models when addressing issues related to sexual exploitation. The models will then be piloted in the two regions, leading to the identification of promising practices and recommendations that will be shared to encourage similar initiatives elsewhere in the province.

Quotes

"Gender-based violence remains a significant yet preventable barrier to equality. Our Government is proud to partner with these three important organizations on this multi-sector project to address sexual exploitation. I know it will help reduce and prevent sexual violence against women and girls here in the Montréal and Montérégie regions."

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Status of Women

"We welcome the Government of Canada's support for this initiative, which will bring together stakeholders and partners from the education, health, youth, academic and policing sectors to develop valuable strategies that help us end the sexual exploitation of women and girls in our communities."

Andrée Levesque, Assistant Director
Action jeunesse de l'Ouest-de-l'Île (AJOI)

"It is vital that we take steps at the community level to develop collaborative models that help us end sexual exploitation of women and girls. Having the federal government as a supportive partner on this project will help us do just that. It is going to make a real difference in our communities."

Isabelle Brisebois, Director General
Justice alternative du Suroît

"Through this partnership with the federal government, we will be able to bring together a range of stakeholders, and develop new approaches to ending the sexual exploitation of women and girls. By piloting these solutions in our two regions, we will then be able to identify and share promising practices with other stakeholders in the province."

Lilia Goldfarb, Programs Director
YWCA Montreal

Quick Facts

• This project is being funded through the Women's Program at Status of Women Canada. The Women's Program supports eligible organizations to carry out projects that address systemic barriers to gender equality in Canada.
• The Government of Canada recently announced It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. The strategy is based on three pillars: prevention; support for survivors and their families; and, promotion of responsive legal and justice systems. It is part of the federal government's multifaceted approach to taking actions that will end violence against women and girls.

Associated Links

• Status of Women Canada ? Women's Program
• It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

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SOURCE Status of Women Canada