Government of Canada More Than Doubles Support to Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

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by ahnationtalk on December 3, 2018377 Views

Nearly 60 projects from the Gender-Based Violence Program receive funding to address gaps in support for underserved groups in Canada, including Indigenous women

December 3, 2018 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – Status of Women Canada

Ending gender-based violence is crucial if we are serious about giving everyone the same opportunities to join and grow Canada’s middle class. Because we all benefit when women, girls and people of all genders are safe and free to live their lives to the fullest.

Today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, announced more than $50 million in funding for nearly 60 projects to support survivors of gender-based violence and their families in communities across Canada. This more than doubles the initially announced funding of $20 million from Budget 2017. Funding will support organizations that work on gender-based violence to develop and implement promising practices to address gaps in supports for underserved groups of survivors of gender-based violence, including Indigenous women, LGBTQ2 communities and gender non-binary people, non-status/refugee/immigrant women, seniors, women living in northern, rural and remote communities, and women living with disabilities.

While at the Halifax Public Library, Minister Monsef highlighted three projects in Nova Scotia that will receive funding;

the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association for a project to provide rural and remote Nova Scotians, particularly youth and African-Nova Scotians, access to culturally relevant services;
the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre for a project to test partnerships between organizations and service providers that offer safe, accessible spaces to ensure that gaps—including a lack of information, interpretation, or cultural appropriateness—are identified and addressed; and
the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women for a project to establish communities of care to provide culturally appropriate services, safe spaces for trauma and safety needs, and improve the health and well-being of under-supported survivors. This project will also receive matching funding from the the Government of Nova Scotia.

This funding stems from a call for concepts announced by Minister Monsef in January, as part of It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.

Quotes

“With this investment, we have more than doubled federal funding for services to support survivors and their families. This funding envelope was developed in partnership with leaders from the women’s sector, whose advice continues to inform Canada’s first strategy to prevent and address gender-based violence. Leaders asked for more dollars over a longer period of time to meet the ever growing demand for their services, a simplified application process, and resources to help provide supports for the most underserved and marginalized survivors of gender-based violence. Our government listened. Gender-based violence must not be tolerated, and we will continue to work with survivors, community partners, the private sector and other orders of government to end GBV in all of its forms.”

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

“We welcome investments from Status of Women Canada in projects that will enable community leaders to develop new supports for survivors of gender-based violence. We are co-investing in one of the projects, and will work with Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian organizations to help address this complex issue in these communities. By standing and working together, we will be able to provide better support for victims, and help prevent and reduce the impact of this violence.”

The Honourable Kelly Regan
Minister Responsible for the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women

Quick facts

In June 2017, Status of Women Canada announced the first ever federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.
To date, the Government of Canada has invested over $200 million, which works across government to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and their families, and create more responsive legal and justice systems.
The Promising practices to support survivors and their families call for concepts is the largest amount of funding ever announced for programming to specifically support diverse groups of gender-based violence survivors and their families.
This announcement is being made during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. Between November 25 and December 10 Canadians are invited to join the conversation. Use the hashtag #MYActionsMatter on social media and visit Status of Women Canada’s website to take the pledge.
Gender-based violence can have lifelong impacts on an individual’s physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health. Additionally, the effects can be serious and costly. Annually, the economic impact of intimate partner violence and sexual assault is estimated to be over $12 billion.

Government of Canada More Than Doubles Support to Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

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