Investment will enable community to prevent and respond to gender-based violence among young people
May 24, 2019 - Montréal, Québec - Department for Women and Gender Equality
Ending gender-based violence is crucial if we are serious about giving everyone the same opportunities to join and grow Canada's middle class. Everyone benefits when women, girls and people of all genders are safe and free to live their lives to the fullest.
Today, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Rachel Bendayan, Member of Parliament for Outremont, announced funding for a project that protects young people and advances gender equality in Montréal.
Prévention Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is receiving $393,429 in Government of Canada funding to help prevent sexual violence against girls in high schools and the communities of Côte-des-Neiges, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Outremont and Ville-Mont-Royal. An advisory committee of schools, students, and community-based organizations will ensure the development and dissemination of consistent approaches to informing youth about sexual consent. Policies and tools for prevention and intervention of sexual harassment will also be developed and made available to local schools.
This initiative is part of an $18 million investment in Funding to Advance Gender Equality. It supports grassroots organizations and 150 women leaders across the country to work together and support the women's movement at the national level. The network is being convened by the Canadian Women's Foundation.
"Strong, dynamic leaders are the heart of the women's movement and their passion is the key to achieving gender equality. Today's announcement shows the power of these leaders and their organizations to catalyze change and inspire action that benefits all of us, here in Montreal and in the entire country. I am proud to support their efforts and our government's ongoing commitment to gender equality."
The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality
"I've already had the pleasure of announcing significant investments in our community. Just as an example, I announced a grant of $393,429 to Prévention CDN-NDG to put a stop to violence against young girls in our schools. In addition, I've announced several grants to women-led businesses, and we are investing $1.3 million in order to create over 400 summer jobs for students in Outremont, Côte-des-Neiges, and the Mile End."
Rachel Bendayan
Member of Parliament for Outremont
"Sexual violence is a very troubling issue for all of us, and we think everyone in the community has a responsibility to be part of the solution. We are very happy to welcome the Government of Canada's support for our project and we intend to work diligently with all our partners to create safer environments for the young women and girls in Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce."
Terri Ste-Marie, Director
Prévention Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Quick facts
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To date, the Government of Canada has invested over $200 million to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and their families, and create more responsive legal and justice systems.
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Some populations are more likely to experience violence and may face unique barriers and challenges that put them at particular risk. According to the 2014 General Social Survey on Victimization, women are at a 20% higher risk of violent victimization than men when all other risk factors are taken into account. Indigenous women are more likely to experience violence and reported having been the victim of a violent crime at a rate 2.7 times higher than that reported by non-Indigenous women (219 incidents per 1,000 population versus 81 incidents per 1,000). Women living in the territories were also at a higher risk of violent victimization than women living in the provinces (182 versus 85 per 1,000 population).
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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.
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Canada will host the Women Deliver 2019 Conference from June 3 to 6, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Held every three years, it is the world's largest gathering on gender equality and the health, rights and well-being of women and girls.
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The conference is part of a global movement to promote gender equality worldwide and give voice to a broad spectrum of people, including Indigenous peoples, youth and those living in conflict and crisis settings. It will bring together more than 7,000 individuals-world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, youth and journalists-from more than 160 countries, with an additional 100,000 people joining virtually.
