Harper Government: Making a Real Difference in the Lives of Women and Girls Across Canada The Harper Government is committed to making a real difference in the lives of women and girls across Canada. This commitment is supported by the work of Status of Women Canada. Status of Women Canada focuses on three priority areas: increasing women's economic security and prosperity; encouraging women's leadership and democratic participation; and, ending violence against women and girls. All forms of violence against women and girls are unacceptable and many are serious violations of Canadian law. The Harper Government is taking concrete actions to eliminate violence against women and girls. For example, we have invested in initiatives to engage men and boys in ending violence against women and girls and to ensure students are safe and secure on post-secondary campuses. Our government has also taken actions to end practices such as so-called honour - based crimes, female genital mutilation and forced marriages. The Harper Government is committed to supporting projects that yield concrete results for women and girls in Canada, while strengthening families and communities. Since 2007, the Government has approved more than $57 million in funding to projects that address this serious issue through Status of Women Canada. 1
Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls: Recent Initiatives The Harper Government is taking action to address violence against women and girls. Through Status of Women Canada, the Harper Government issues targeted Calls for Proposals that ask grassroots organizations to submit projects that address a specific issue. A sample of these calls can be found below (page 3). In addition to Calls for Proposals, a continuous intake process is also used to fund projects through Status of Women Canada. Under this process, organizations may submit project proposals based on self-identified needs. A sample of previously funded projects is available below (pages 4-11) 2
Examples of Recent Calls for Proposals Working Together: Engaging Communities to End Violence Against Women and Girls The Harper Government launched the Call for Proposals Working Together: Engaging Communities to End Violence Against Women and Girls in 2012. The goal is to solicit applications for funding of projects that will prevent and reduce violence against women and girls in Canada. The projects under this Call for Proposals fall into four areas: preventing and reducing violence against women and girls in high-risk neighbourhoods; engaging men and boys in ending violence against women and girls; preventing and reducing so-called honour-based violence against women and girls; and, preventing and reducing the trafficking of women and girls through community planning. Applications are currently under evaluation, and successful projects will be announced shortly. Women Living in Rural and Remote Communities and Small Urban Centres The Harper Government launched the Call for Proposals Women Living in Rural and Remote Communities and Small Urban Centres in 2011. Approved projects now underway address two needs: community planning to reduce violence against women; and, increasing women s economic security in rural and remote communities in Canada. Under this Call for Proposals, close to $7 million in funding has been approved for projects addressing the issue of violence against women and girls in rural communities. Engaging Young People to Prevent Violence against Women on Post-Secondary Campuses The Harper Government launched the Call for Proposals Engaging Young People to Prevent Violence against Women on Post-Secondary Campuses in 2011. Close to $4 million is being provided to 21organizations to carry out projects that address a wide range of issues related to violence against female students such as sexual assault and harassment. Organizations will work with college and university campus communities to carry out their projects. 3
Examples of Recent Projects Organization: La Loche Friendship Centre Corp. Focus: Aboriginal women and girls Project completion: 2015 Project description: The goal of this project is to address the issue of violence against Aboriginal women and girls living in the La Loche and Clearwater Dene Nation in northern Saskatchewan. La Loche Friendship Centre Corp. is examining the existing situation and root causes of domestic violence in the two communities by conducting focus groups that look at how girls, women and other community members experience gender-based violence. Information from the focus groups and other consultations with partners will be used to develop a community action plan to address violence faced by Aboriginal women and girls. Implementation of the plan will follow. Organization description: La Loche Friendship Centre Corp is a non-profit corporation established in 1998 to promote and encourage the wellness of its community members through education, advocacy, employment, and youth cultural development. The organization delivers social and cultural programming. The board of directors is comprised of First Nations and Métis people. It is a member of the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan. Please visit the La Loche Friendship Centre Corp Web site for more information. 4
Organization: Girls Action Foundation Focus: Aboriginal women and girls Project Title: Aboriginal Young Women's Leadership for Violence Prevention Project Completion: 2013 Project description: The Girls Action Foundation is working through this project to strengthen young Aboriginal women s leadership skills in order to address and reduce violence. A national forum is being held to provide information on the issue of violence and leadership, along with facilitation of skills training for young women from Aboriginal communities across Canada. The participants are delivering ten youth-led projects in their own communities on issues such as the cycle of violence and healthy relationships. Participants are being supported by local mentors, peers and elders in the implementation of these projects. They are also engaging key community representatives to support the elimination of violence against women and girls. The project is based on a successful model developed by the organization which increases marginalized young women's leadership capacity and has positive impacts on their communities. This project represents a partnership between Girls Action Foundation, the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and the Native Women's Association of Canada. The partners bring extensive national networks and expertise in working with Aboriginal youth to the project. Organization Description: Founded in 1995, the Girls Action Foundation supports the empowerment, leadership and healthy development of girls and young women across Canada. The organization works to raise awareness and mobilize action to eliminate violence and discrimination by providing girls and young women with the resources they need to participate fully in society. Please visit the Girls Action Foundation Web site for more information. 5
Organization: Shield of Athena Family Services Focus: So-called honour-based violence Project title: Contributing to the Prevention of Honour Crimes and Violence against Women and Girls: Developing a Community Screening, Information and Training Strategy Project Completion: 2015 Project description: Shield of Athena Family Services is helping identified communities achieve zero tolerance of violence against women and girls. Under this project, the organization is developing a strategy to inform women and communities about the issue of gender-based violence, including socalled honour-based crimes, along with legislation concerning crimes against persons and violence against women in Canada. The organization is providing training to liaison workers from cultural communities in order to provide information, identify at-risk situations and identify sources of assistance for victims. Organization description: The Shield of Athena is a non-profit organization which provides multilingual and multidisciplinary services to women and children who are victims of spousal abuse and/or family violence in the Montréal area. It provides support, intervention and prevention services which are culturally and linguistically adapted to meet the needs of many of Montréal's major ethnocultural communities. Services are currently provided in 16 languages, including English and French through two outreach offices (Montréal/Laval) and at its emergency shelter. Please visit the Shield of Athena Family Services Web site for more information. 6
Organization: Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC) Focus: Engaging men and boys Project title: Lions Share: Violence Against Women Education Project Completion: 2014 Project description: EVA BC is seeking to reduce violence against women and girls by partnering with the BC Lions football club to increase understanding of the impact this type of violence has. The focus of the project is to educate bystanders, particularly youth from grades 8 to 12, about how they can take a stand to help stop violence against women and girls. Although the project targets both genders, a particular emphasis is on the engagement of men and boys, including football coaches and their teams. A key goal is to increase understanding that violence against women and girls is not solely a women s issue. Activities include school-based interactive educational workshops about gender-based violence, training sessions presented to adult football coaches, a multimedia campaign featuring the BC Lions, and a film and viewer s guide directed at youth. These activities culminate in a symposium where lessons learned and best practices are shared with key stakeholders from across the province and country. Organization description: The Ending Violence Association of British Columbia serves as a resource for over 240 community-based services supporting survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence, child abuse and criminal harassment. Please visit the Ending Violence Association of British Columbia Web site for more information. 7
Organization: Women s Support Network of York Region Focus: Trafficking of women and girls Project Completion: 2013 Project description: The Women s Support Network of York Region is taking an innovative approach to the promotion of community safety by addressing the needs of women and girls at risk of sexual exploitation and human trafficking in the York Region in Ontario. The project s focus is to develop inter-agency protocols, guidelines and best practices to ensure appropriate responses by service providers to intra-regional trafficking of girls and women. Businesses across the region are being engaged through workshops to help them recognize signs of exploitation and human trafficking. Results are being shared with organizations working on similar issues. Organization description: Incorporated in 2003, the Women s Support Network of York Region works closely with stakeholders in engaging young women and young men in initiatives to address sexual violence. It is a member organization of a local coalition established to respond to trafficking. Please visit the Women s Support Network of York Region Web site for more information. 8
Organization: Canadian Women s Foundation (CWF) Focus: Engaging youth Project title: Building the Field of Teen Healthy Relationships and Violence Prevention Project Completion: 2013 Project description: The Canadian Women s Foundation is bringing together youth and youth representatives from across Canada who have participated in projects funded by the organization s Healthy Relationships Program over the past five years. They will share best practices in building healthy relationships and changing attitudes towards women and girls. These identified best practices will then be shared through the organizations with the thousands of youth they serve. The project includes follow-up and evaluation by the Canadian Women s Foundation to measure the impact of the knowledge transfer. Organization description: Located in Toronto, Ontario, the Canadian Women s Foundation is a national foundation dedicated to improving the lives of girls and women. CWF researches, shares, and funds the most promising approaches to ending violence against women, moving low-income women out of poverty, and empowering girls with confidence, courage and critical thinking skills. Please visit the Canadian Women s Foundation Web site for more information. 9
Organization: Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC) Focus: Engaging college students and campus communities Project Completion: 2014 Project description: The Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities is working with students at Langara College in Vancouver, B.C.. Designed to support female students from ethno-cultural communities, the organization is producing a community plan to reduce genderbased violence on campus. This plan is based on a needs assessment and review of campus policies, programs and resources. The project is addressing the intersectionalities between violence and cultural norms and practices that can compromise the safety of female students. Organization description: MOSAIC is a multilingual non-profit organization dedicated to addressing issues that affect immigrants and refugees in the course of their settlement and integration into Canadian society. Since its inception in 1976, its work has been guided by the vision of equality, social justice, equal access, and democracy. Its major activities include: settlement services and programming; crime reduction and prevention programs; public education; community development; coalition building; and, bridging with the broader community. Please visit the MOSIAC Web site for more information. 10
Organization: Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan Focus: Addressing violence in rural communities and small urban centres Project Completion: 2015 Project description: The Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan is developing and implementing a community plan to address the high incidence of violence against women in the communities of La Ronge, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Swift Current, Melfort, and Kindersley. The community action plan is being developed in collaboration with community stakeholders such as local service providers, community leaders, schools, Aboriginal service organizations, and shelters. As part of the plan s development, the organization is conducting a gender-based analysis and literature review, identifying promising practices, and interviewing women and girls. Organization description: The Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan has been working in the area of domestic violence for 27 years. It does so through collaborative support for its member agencies who work with individuals directly or indirectly exposed to violence. The organization s work involves support services, research, the development of programs and resources to facilitate change, and creating public awareness about personal and family violence in Saskatchewan. Please visit the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan Web site for more information. 11