The Executive Director of the Prince George Sexual Assault Centre says the BC government’s commitment to provide a three-year gender-based violence strategy is a historic moment.
Over the weekend, the province announced its action plan, which includes the creation of safe spaces for women and children leaving violence along with 75 new sexual assault centers and new 24/7 crisis lines.
Halikowski told MyPGNow.com that the issue reaches close to 11 million Canadians from all walks of life.
“Gender-based violence continues to be a significant area in achieving gender equity in Canada and gender-based violence is the most pervasive and deeply-rooted human rights violation that impacts all of society.”
She mentioned certain sections of the population are more impacted by this than others.
“We know there is a disproportionate impact on gender-based violence on Indigenous women and children, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people as well as the ongoing crisis of those who are murdered and missing.”
Halikowski stated the investment is part of a much bigger plan to eliminate this long-standing issue.
“It’s been a 10-year plan that sets the framework to make Canada free of gender-based violence, which is critical where more than 11 million people in Canada have experienced intimate partner violence and that doesn’t include the much wider spectrum – that is a lot of people.”
Finance Minister Katrine Conroy added nearly 62 million dollars from a new Canada-British Columbia bilateral agreement has been earmarked for the plan over four years.
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