March 4, 2008
OTTAWA - Women's organizations across Canada will be able to improve the safety of at-risk Aboriginal women, immigrant and visible minority women, senior women, and women with disabilities thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.
Together, women from across Canada will work with municipal partners and local women's organizations to assess how safe their communities are for the targeted women's groups.
The announcement was made today by the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages. Funding worth $1,934,732 will be invested in the following seven national women's organizations for projects which will empower women across Canada:
- $528,800 to the Women in Cities International / Femmes et villes international, for a project entitled Creating Safer Communities for Marginalized Women and Everyone;
- $479,798 to the Native Women's Association of Canada for a project entitled Violence Prevention Toolkit - Phase II;
- $358,600 to National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women for a project entitled Engaging Immigrant and Visible Minority Women in Leadership Roles in Canadian Society;
- $283,594 to the POWER Camp National / Filles d'Action for a project entitled Skills and Support: Mentorship/Training for Young Women in Marginalized Communities Across Canada;
- $170,000 to First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada for a project entitled Caring Across the Boundaries: The Circle of Collaboration;
- $88,550 to National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence for a project entitled Financial Skills for Aboriginal Women Starting Over; and
- $25,390 to the Canadian Council for Refugees for a project entitled Pathways to Gender Justice - Second Phase.
"These seven initiatives fulfill the goals of the Women's Community Fund - working toward the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of this country, starting at the grass roots level and reaching across communities, regions and the country," said Minister Verner. "These projects will touch the lives of women who are often marginalized, and provide them with real opportunities and positive, life-changing results."
"Violence against women in cities is an ongoing concern," said Ms. Caroline Andrew, President of Women in Cities International / Femmes et villes international, "Our project will tackle this issue in all its forms - from sexual assault to abductions and criminal harassment, as well as fear of crime - on a large scale, ultimately benefiting hundreds of thousands of women and girls."
The projects being funded were approved under the Women's Community Fund of the Women's Program of Status of Women Canada. This Fund supports eligible organizations in carrying out projects at the local, regional and national level. To qualify, the initiatives must work toward the equality and full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.
The Minister made the announcement at an Encounters with Canada gathering of young people. Encounters with Canada is the country's largest youth forum, bringing together young Canadians from different backgrounds to discover Canada through each other and to learn about Canadian institutions.
This funding is being announced, in part, to celebrate International Women's Week, March 2 to 8, with its highlight, March 8, International Women's Day. This year's theme, Strong Women, Strong World, refers not only to the empowerment of women but also to the importance of women as caregivers, educators, policymakers, activists, leaders, international peacemakers and stewards of the world's environment.
Status of Women Canada is a federal government agency working to promote the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.
For information on Status of Women Canada, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/.
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For more information, please contact:
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages
819-997-7788
Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications
Status of Women Canada
613-995-7839
