Manitoba and Ottawa are investing a combined $12.5 million to help work towards a future free of gender-based violence in the province.
Federal Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien and Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine announced the funding on Monday, saying the federal government is providing $6.2 million and the provincial government is giving $6.35 million.
The money will go towards 19 community initiatives focused on gender-based violence including to the Brandon Women’s Resource Centre.
“Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most pervasive, deadly, deeply-rooted human rights violations of our time,” Ien said.
“It disproportionately impacts women and girls. Certain populations that are at risk of GBV, of course, include Indigenous women and girls – just under five per cent of the population, but 21 per cent of those impacted by gender-based violence.”
The governments note that the initiatives that are to receive this funding must align with the following five pillars:
-Supports for survivors and their families;
-Prevention;
-Responsive justice system;
-Implementation of Indigenous-led approaches; and
-Social infrastructure and enabling environment.
The funding is part of the 10-year ‘National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.’ For more information on the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, visit: Publications | Women and Gender Equity Manitoba