The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls highlighted the underlying systemic causes of ongoing violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The COVID-19 pandemic also created unprecedented challenges for victims and survivors seeking help and the frontline organizations that support them.
Today, on behalf of the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City, and Taleeb Noormohamed, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, announced over $3.1 million for seven organizations in British Columbia:
- Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society
- Carrier Sekani Family Services
- Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society
- Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Society
- Lillooet Friendship Centre Society
- Urban Native Youth Association
- Aboriginal Front Door Society
The funding announced today will increase the capacity of Indigenous women's and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations. Their projects will help address the root causes of gender-based violence and ensure that Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and their communities, can prosper now and in the future.
This funding is in addition to the funding provided to the province of British Columbia to support crisis hotlines. These investments allowed for British Columbia crisis hotlines to offer more robust services, resources, and supports to serve the urgent needs of those experiencing gender-based violence and their families.
In November 2022, the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women launched the 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence. The Plan is a strategic framework for addressing gender-based violence. It includes five pillars: support for victims, survivors, and their families; prevention; responsive justice system; implementing Indigenous-led approaches; and social infrastructure and enabling environment.
