Montréal, QC –

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities, and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, today announced Government of Canada support for two new projects that will address violence committed in the name of so-called ‘honour’ against women and girls in major Quebec centres.

"When women and girls are victims of violence, it hurts everyone," said Minister Lebel. "These projects, which reach across communities to help women and girls of all ages, will change and save lives."

"Our Government is committed to protecting women and girls from violence, and holding offenders accountable for their actions," said Minister Leitch. "That is why we are supporting community-based projects across Canada that address gender-based violence."

La Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes is receiving $200,000 from the Government of Canada for a project to address violence in the name of so-called ‘honour’ in Montréal, Quebec City, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, and Laval. The project will build partnerships between women, community agencies and stakeholders so they can better identify and respond to the specific needs of at-risk women and girls.

"Our network of organizations is committed to addressing issues that are important to immigrant and refugee women," said Ms. Yasmina Chouakri, Coordinator of Women’s Programs, Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes. "Through this important project, we can make a real difference for those at risk of experiencing violence in the name of so-called ‘honour.’"

Another Quebec organization, the Centre social d’aide aux immigrants (CSAI), is receiving $149,912 in Government of Canada funding for a project that will also address violence committed in the name of so-called "honour." The project will focus on five boroughs in Montreal, including those with the largest proportion of newcomers. The project will develop and implement a local strategy focused on prevention and action. Recommendations and protocols will be established to ensure that at-risk women and girls have access to appropriate services.

Immigrant women and girls from various ethnic communities face many challenges in adapting to life in Canada. Integrating into a society with different values, cultures and traditions can create conflict, both for the individual and within the family – realities that can lead to these women and girls experiencing violence committed in the name of so-called ‘honour’ – an issue of particular concern to our organization," said Ms. Louise Viens, Project Coordinator, Centre social d’aide aux immigrants.

The Harper Government is supporting these projects through Status of Women Canada’s call for proposals, Working Together: Engaging Communities to End Violence against Women and Girls. Through Status of Women Canada, federal support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, supporting more than 600 projects across Canada. Since that time, over $62 million dollars in funding has been approved for projects to end violence against women and girls.

By:IANS