Newly formed Advisory Council to help shape Federal Strategy against Gender-based Violence

News Release

Minister Hajdu leading development and implementation of new strategy

June 27, 2016 – Ottawa, ON – Status of Women Canada

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women, met today in Ottawa with the newly created Advisory Council, which is tasked with supporting the development of the Government of Canada’s Federal Strategy Against Gender-based Violence.

Despite a steady decline in Canada’s overall violent crime rate, violence remains a reality for many women and girls. Statistics show that women and girls continue to be at higher risk of being victims of certain forms of violence than men and boys, including sexual violence and intimate partner violence. Gender-based violence also has a disproportionate impact on Indigenous women and girls, LGBTQQI2S (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning, intersex and two-spirited) and gender-nonconforming people.

The Government of Canada is committed to gender equality and ensuring the safety and security of women and girls is a priority. Reflecting this commitment, Minister Hajdu has been mandated to develop a federal strategy that will strengthen federal efforts to prevent gender-based violence through a coordinated, collaborative and evidence-based approach.

The Advisory Council will serve as a forum to exchange views, promising practices and research on issues related to gender-based violence. The members of the Advisory Council come from a broad range of sectors and areas of expertise, including prevention, LGBTQQI2S issues, engaging men and boys, cyberviolence, sexual violence, violence against people with disabilities, violence against Indigenous women and girls, and the criminal justice system.

Quotes

“I will be looking to the Advisory Council to work with me as I develop the Federal Strategy Against Gender-based Violence. Their counsel will be essential in ensuring that we get it right and properly meet the needs of Canadian women and girls.”
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Status of Women

“I am looking forward to this opportunity to help shape the federal government’s response to violence against women and girls and ensuring that diverse voices - including survivors of sexual violence - are heard.”
Farrah Kahn
Sexual Violence Support and Education Coordinator, Ryerson University

“It is an honour to join this council of experts and share the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s expertise and perspectives on preventing violence against women and girls. By promoting a coordinated federal response to gender-based violence, this strategy will be instrumental in providing better support for survivors.”
Anuradha Dugal
Director of Violence Prevention Programs, Canadian Women’s Foundation

“To prevent violence against women and girls, we need to bring men and boys into the conversation. I am proud to play a role in the development of this federal strategy and will work to ensure that it considers how we engage men and boys in ending gender-based violence.”
Todd Minerson
Executive Director, White Ribbon Campaign

Quick Facts

Violence remains a significant barrier to gender equality in Canada.
Over the next three months, Minister Hajdu will meet with experts and advocates from across the country, which will help the federal government develop better, evidence-based and more effective policies and programs.
Two online surveys will also be available on Status of Women Canada’s website later this summer: one for experts and advocates and one for survivors or anyone else who would like to share their perspectives.
As a first step, the Minister has formed the Advisory Council on the Federal Strategy Against Gender-based Violence. This Council will provide guidance to the government on the engagement process and will inform the development of the strategy.

Inquiries

Nadège Adam
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Status of Women
819-997-2494

Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
819-420-6810

For news releases and information on Status of Women Canada, go to women.gc.ca.

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In this picture: Minister Hajdu with some of the members of the Advisory Council to help shape Federal Strategy against Gender-based Violence

Standing, left to right: Amélie Aubut, Judge Advocate General (JAG), Bonnie Brayton, National Executive Director of the Disabled Women¿s Network of Canada, Yvonne Niego, Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Justice, Nunavut, Dhillon Black, Project Coordinator at the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, Nneka MacGregor, Executive Director of the Women¿s Centre for Social Justice, Monique Lugli, Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister for the Status of Women, Anuradha Dugal, Director of Violence Prevention Programs at Canadian Women¿s Foundation, Lise Martin, Executive Director of the Canadian Network of Women¿s Shelters and Transition Houses and Brenda Belak, campaign lawyer for Pivot Legal Society.

Seated, left to right: Nathalie Duhamel, Coordinator of the Regroupement québécois CALACS ,Farrah Khan, Sexual Violence Education and Support Coordinator, Ryerson University, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women, Anju Dhillon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women, and Meena Ballantyne, Head of Agency, Status of Women Canada.

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2020-11-26

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