Community groups receive funding to help prevent violence against women

Four community organizations will receive funding through the Violence Against Women Prevention Grants to develop projects, programs and services that benefit Island women.

The four groups include, the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (PEIRSAC), BIPOC USHR, PEERS Alliance and PEI Family Violence Prevention Services.    

“No one should face violence because of who they are. Yet for far too many women, girls, and people of diverse gender identities and gender expressions, that is their reality. This is a societal issue, and that is why our Violence Against Women Prevention Grants are so important. We are providing grassroot community organizations funding to enhance awareness, education and action towards preventing violence against women in Prince Edward Island.”

- Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Natalie Jameson.

The grants are provided through the Interministerial Women’s Secretariat. 

“PEIRSAC is grateful and excited to receive a Violence Against Women Grant to pilot a Sexual Violence Prevention and Public Education Coordinator position. With the guidance of a community-based advisory committee, the coordinator will create, implement, and assess educational programs based on promising practices in sexual violence prevention education, with a special focus on primary, secondary, and university aged youth and other young adults,” said Rachael Crowder, executive director of the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre.

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In Prince Edward Island, it is also the launch of the Purple Ribbon Campaign to support survivors. 

Each year, the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women asks Islanders to wear a purple ribbon for 16 days – from November 25 to December 10 – to raise awareness about violence against women and children here on PEI, across Canada, and throughout the world. Reflecting on the many changes in the past months, the 2021-2022 theme of the Purple Ribbon Campaign is REIMAGINING SAFETY: self ~ relationships ~ world. This year marks the 30th year for the annual campaign.

“Every year, hundreds of Islanders are the victims of violence against women and children. Most survive. The message of the Purple Ribbon Campaign is that we must work together to end violence and abuse and learn how to support the survivors in our communities,” said Jameson. 

This year's Montreal Massacre Memorial Service will be accessible to the public by livestream at 12 noon on Monday, December 6th. The service will feature public officials, front-line victim-support workers, and friends or family members of murdered women lighting candles in memory of women killed by violence.

Media contact:
Autumn Tremere
Senior Communications Officer
agtremere@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder

Here are the details of the projects approved for funding:

PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre -$41,800 - to pilot a Sexual Violence Prevention and Public Education Coordinator position at the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre using a community development approach. The Coordinator will be responsible for the creation, implementation, and assessment of Sexual Violence Prevention and Educational programs for the PEI community, respecting cultural, social and institutional contexts and practices. 

BIPOC USHR -$18,700- to bring the empirically-tested Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) Sexual Assault Resistance Education program to PEI and deliver it to university-aged BIPOC women on the Island. This program has been shown to be scientifically effective in preventing sexual assault by acquaintances. 

PEERS Alliance - $9,500 – to engage the trans community to build knowledge on transphobic violence in the workplace. The working group will build strategies for resilience among participants and generate knowledge and strategies to educate employers and make PEI workplaces safer and more inclusive. 

PEI Family Violence Prevention Services - $5,000 – to increase the production of organizational materials about violence prevention, available services, and where to go for help.  The goal is to help women be more informed about helpful services, help bystanders to be better armed to take action if they see or know of a woman in trouble, and give the general public a better understanding of the issues facing women who have experienced abuse.