#Canada; #SexualHealthEducation; #GenderBasedViolence; #GenderEquality; #GenderRights
Ottawa/CMEDIA: Promotion of gender equality in Canada and addressing the root causes of gender-based violence, having access to knowledge and information, empowering all Canadians to identify violent and harmful practices, and acting on them are the key factors in building healthy life skills through education, prevention, and support for women and children.
Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced on Jan 20 over $8M for 21 projects to improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls, focusing on eliminating gender-based violence., increasing sexual health education, promoting gender equality, and address harmful gender norms subject to intersectional lived experiences.
Minister Ien met with two organizations, The Sex Information and Education Council of Canada (SIECC) and the Regroupement Naissances Respectées (RNR) that are advancing gender equality through their community‑based projects.
“Community organizations, advocates, survivors, and allies are the heart of systemic change…By addressing the root causes of gender-based violence, we advance gender equality and empower women and girls to reach their full potential, ” said Marci Ien in a news release.
Recipient of over $696,000 in funding, SIECC ensures the efficacy of sexual health education programs in addressing persistent harmful gender norms and attitudes among youth and reducing the occurrence of gender-based violence.
RNR received over $450,000 and this“project is funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Feminist Response and Recovery Fund…will more effectively integrate gender-based violence prevention wthin sexual health education programming in schools and community settings in Canada,” Jessica Wood, Research Specialist, of SIECC.
Through Budget 2021, the Government of Canada committed $3 billion over five years to increase efforts to end gender-based violence. This included $601.3 million over five years toward a national action plan to end gender-based violence.
“Sexual health and rights are critical for saving lives and reducing ill-health among women, men, girls, and boys. They contribute to fulfilling their internationally recognized right to the highest attainable standard of health...In Canada, 30% of women, 8% of men, and 59% of transgender and gender-diverse people have been sexually assaulted at some point since age 15. That’s more than 11 million Canadians…One in five victims of sexual assault–both women and men–felt blamed for their own victimization,” said the news release
