N.B. receives $16.3M in federal money to address gender-based violence
Money, spread over 4 years, will allow for enhanced support for survivors, says women's equality minister
The funding is part of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and was announced by Hamilton Mountain MP Lisa Hepfner, who is parliamentary secretary to the federal minister for women and gender equality and youth.
Sherry Wilson, the minister responsible for women's equality in New Brunswick, said the money will allow the province to enhance services available for survivors of gender-based violence and the organizations that provide "crucial life-saving support, services and information."
She said priorities include "increasing prevention efforts" and reaching those who "under-served and-or most at risk."
Wilson said the funding will allow the province to fund agencies to:
- Offer therapeutic counselling to survivors.
- Deliver specialized training for justice system, social services and health personnel.
- Provide funding to gender-based violence service organizations.
- Co-ordinate prevention and awareness campaigns.
- Enhance healthy relationship programs in schools.
- Support programming for children exposed to domestic violence.
- Enhance and expand prevention programs for individuals who cause harm.
- Fund initiatives to address violence against Indigenous women and girls and the LGBTQ community.
Wilson said the funding will help further the work the government is already doing.
Sherry
Wilson, the minister responsible for women's equality in New Brunswick,
said the money will allow the province to enhance services available
for survivors of gender-based violence and the organizations who help
them. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
In January 2021, federal, provincial, and territorial ministers responsible for the status of women endorsed a joint declaration to combat gender-based violence, which laid out a 10-year national action plan, based on five pillars, including support for victims and prevention.
Since then, the federal government has committed $1.14 billion to advance the plan, including $539.3 million over five years to help provinces and territories implement the national plan.
Monday's announcement in Fredericton is among a series of bilateral agreements being signed between the federal government and provinces and territories.
In July, for example, Ottawa gave Saskatchewan $20.3 million, and Manitoba $22.3 million, as part of the plan.
"As we commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, today's announcement brings us one step closer to a future where everyone can live free from gender-based violence," said Hepfner at the announcement.
"By partnering with the provincial government, we are making sure that these supports are strong, culturally relevant and respond to the needs of communities in New Brunswick."
From
left, Social Development Minister Jill Green, Fredericton MP Jenica
Atwin, Hamilton Mountain MP Lisa Hepfner, who is parliamentary secretary
to the federal minister for women and gender equality and youth, and
Sherry Wilson, the minister responsible for women's equality in New
Brunswick. (Submitted by Government of New Brunswick)
According to an information sheet from the federal government, police-reported data shows there were 749 victims of sexual assault in New Brunswick in 2022.
The government also said self-reported data collected in 2018 shows "27 per cent of women in New Brunswick had experienced physical or sexual assault committed by an intimate partner since age 15."
Wilson said, "The evidence indicates that most incidents of violence are never reported — not to police or health-care professionals, rarely to family and friends. Therefore, we know the statistics show only a snapshot of what is really happening in the public and private spaces of New Brunswick.
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"By partnering with the provincial government, we are making sure that these supports are strong, culturally relevant and respond to the needs of communities in New Brunswick."
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