Canada will invest $2 million to support victims of violence
Funds will be used to help people who have experienced abuse and are in shelters or transitional housing.
The Canadian government will provide about $2 million CAD to help victims of family and gender-based violence. The funds will be allocated over four years to projects from two Ottawa-based organizations, Carleton University and MediaSmarts. The initiatives aim to support people who have been abused and to prevent the spread of violence.
Project funding was announced on October 18 by Jenna Sudds, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, and Yasir Naqvi, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Centre.
"This funding will help survivors get access to tailored physical activity programs as well as digital guidance workshops. These initiatives are important in connecting survivors of family and gender-based violence with the appropriate tools and empowering them to make informed decisions," emphasized Jenna Sudds during her presentation, noting also that violence has a detrimental impact on survivors' health and has long-term consequences for individuals or families, as well as for society.
As part of the financial aid, $1,005,000 CAD will be given to MediaSmarts. The organization's project primarily aims to support family violence victims across Canada who live in shelters or transitional housing. Workshops and classes will be offered to survivors to teach them how to avoid and prevent online violence.
The remaining $946,859 CAD will be awarded to Carleton University for a project that will include a physical activity program for abused women and children. The goal of developing TVIPA (Trauma— and Violence-Informed Physical Activity) practices is to create a non-violent environment in which people can have the opportunity to make choices, cooperate and learn.
Family and gender-based violence is a common problem in the world. Unfortunately, violence occurs in Canada as well. According to various estimates, women, children and the elderly are the most frequent victims of violence.
For example, according to the Canadian Centre for Justice and Public Safety Statistics, about 107,810 cases of family violence were identified in Canada in 2019 alone. Of all reported cases, more than 70% involved women who were abuse victims. However, the exact number is difficult to calculate, because victims are often afraid or unwilling to seek help.
