SUDBURY – Gender-based violence costs women and gender-diverse people their lives and has profound effects on our communities. Preventing and addressing gender-based violence is a crucial step to advancing gender equality in Canada.

Today, Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, joined by Lisa Hepfner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced $530,000 for She Matters to prevent and address gender-based violence.

She Matters will launch a community-based research project addressing barriers in accessing forensic evidence collection for survivors of sexual assault in rural and remote communities. Research pertaining to accessibility to forensic evidence collection in cases of sexual assault remains limited. The She Matters project titled ‘Does Geography Impact Access to Justice? Access to Evidence Collection in Rural and Remote Communities’ seeks to address this gap by partnering with several organizations to identify existing gaps and ways to increase accessibility to forensic evidence collection. Increasing accessibility to forensic evidence collection in rural and remote areas is imperative to providing equal access to justice, breaking the cycles of violence towards Indigenous women and girls, and fulfilling human rights as detailed in the final report of the National Inquiry into MMIWG+.

In addition to this investment, MP Lapointe and MP Hepfner, also announced up to $19 million for 33 other organizations across Canada. This funding will help these organizations prevent and address gender-based violence by strengthening their communities, building capacity, providing better support and resources, or conducting research. The collaborative spirit driving these initiatives embodies the essence of progress towards gender equality and a stronger, more inclusive Canada.

Quotes

“Gender-based violence is a human rights violation that has profound impacts on communities, including here in Sudbury. I am proud to support the incredible work of She Matters. She Matters is committed to protecting the rights of survivors of sexual violence, and they will continue to do so through their community-based research across Northern Ontario. All projects announced today will seek to better understand the root causes and systemic factors of gender-based violence. Informed by community-based research and promising practices, these organizations and initiatives will support a path towards building safer communities across Canada.” – Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament Sudbury

"Embarking on this vital community-based research, we recognize the urgent need to address long-standing barriers faced by survivors in our rural and remote communities. The project, 'Does Geography Impact Access to Justice? Access to Evidence Collection in Rural and Remote Communities,' goes beyond forensic evidence collection; it represents a significant step in dismantling systemic obstacles for survivors of sexual violence. The research is a commitment to enhancing accessibility and breaking the cycles of violence. Our hope is that this initiative serves as a catalyst for change, championing equity, justice, and reconciliation for those whose voices have been silenced for far too long." - Jacqueline Villeneuve-Ahmed, Director - She Matters

• Women and Gender Equality Canada
• News release – Call for proposals: Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to further address gender-based violence 
• Call for Proposals to Address GBV through Promising Practices and Community-based Research
• The National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence
• Bilateral Agreements to end Gender-based Violence