Campaign will raise awareness of cyberbullying and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images

Halifax, NS

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Peter MacKay, on behalf of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Steven Blaney, was in Halifax today to launch the Government of Canada’s anti-cyberbullying public awareness campaign, Stop Hating Online. The national campaign will raise awareness among Canadians of the impact of cyberbullying, and when this behaviour amounts to criminal activity.

Through television and online advertising, the first phase of the campaign, unveiled today, is designed to help parents understand when cyberbullying amounts to criminal activity. In February, a second phase of the campaign will reach out to youth to encourage them to take action against cyberbullying before it goes too far. The Government has also launched Canada.ca/StopHatingOnline, a comprehensive resource for parents and youth with the information, advice and tools they need to prevent and stop cyberbullying.

Through this national public awareness campaign, our Government is taking strong steps to help protect our children and youth from cyberbullying.

Quick Facts

• Bill C-13, Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, was introduced November 20, 2013. This legislation would make it a criminal offence to distribute intimate images without the consent of the person depicted.
• The Government is also supporting the development of a number of school-based projects to prevent bullying, as part of $10 million in funding that was committed in 2012 towards new crime prevention projects.
• Other important projects that the Government supports to address cyberbullying include:
  • the RCMP’s Centre for Youth Crime Prevention, which offers resources, such as fact sheets, lesson plans and interactive learning tools, to youth, parents, police officers and educators on bullying and cyberbullying; and
  • the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s  Cybertip.ca and NeedHelpNow.ca websites, which Canadians can use to report online sexual exploitation of children and seek help from exploitation resulting from the non-consensual sharing of sexual images.

Quotes

“Too many families across this country have experienced the devastating effects of cyberbullying.  Our Government will not stand by and watch the online harassment of our children.  Thanks to this national campaign, we are informing parents and youth about cyberbullying and how it can amount to criminal activity.”
Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

“Cyberbullying is an issue that affects us all and demands that Canadians work together to put an end to it.  This national public awareness campaign is an important step in protecting our children online. Along with our government’s introduction of Bill C‑13, theProtecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, we are taking clear action to tackle cyberbullying.” 
Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

“Cyberbullying is a serious and growing problem that is impacting far too many young people.  We applaud the Government of Canada’s efforts to prevent future tragedies by raising the public’s awareness of this issue and investing in educational and prevention initiatives.” 
Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection

“Education and awareness of community resources are key. Canada's police services are determined to help put an end to bullying. We need to continuously develop and promote community approaches, education, assistance and discussion amongst families and teens.”
Chief Eric Jolliffe, Chair of the CACP Victims of Crime Committee

 

 

src:news.gc.ca