Federal pledges $3 million to BC crisis hotline for women fleeing violence

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BC will receive $3 million over four years from the federal government to distribute to crisis hotlines that address gender-based violence.

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Mercy Yen, federal minister for women and gender equality and youth Canada, made the announcement at a press conference on Friday, which is also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. She was joined by Grace Lore, B.C.’s parliamentary secretary for gender equality.

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She noted that 4,524 cases of sexual assault were reported to provincial police in 2021, while violence against women due to COVID-19 surged in B.C., according to Statistics Canada.

“This is a 15% increase from 2020,” said len. “Everyone has the right to live free from violence and every effort will be made to end all forms of gender-based violence.

The minister said crisis hotlines are a lifeline for women and gender diverse people fleeing violence.

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“It’s no exaggeration to say that being able to connect directly to support and services can be the difference between life and death,” says len.

This funding will support two statewide crisis hotlines that provide information, resources, and support to indigenous and non-indigenous survivors of gender-based violence.

“When it comes to gender-based violence, women, girls, transgender, two-spirit and non-binary people are the most targeted,” said Lore.

“We are committed to ensuring that survivors of violence have access to the care they need in their communities when it is safe to move forward.”

Nearly half of anti-violence sector workers surveyed in Canada between May and July 2020 reported a change in the prevalence and severity of gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the federal government. said he noticed.

Since April 2020, the federal government has committed $240 million in emergency COVID-19 funding to 1,400 women’s shelters, sexual assault centers, and other organizations in Canada.

ticrawford@postmedia.com