Victims of Violence Canadian Centre for Missing Children Receives Funding to Continue Advancing Victim Issues

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 15, 2014) - Justice Canada

Today, Justice Minister Peter MacKay announced $143,500 in funding for Victims of Violence Canadian Centre for Missing Children.

The funding will be used by the organization to continue publishing Victim Matters, a bi-monthly publication that serves to increase knowledge and awareness of victimization, the needs of victims of crime, available services, assistance and programs, and relevant legislation. The funding will also be used to undertake a comprehensive exploration of the history of the victims movement in Canada since the early 1980s.

This funding announcement is in keeping with the Government's Plan for Safe Streets and Communities, one of four priorities identified by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in January 2013. It is also in line with the Speech from the Throne 2013 commitment to introduce measures that will increase support for victims of crime.

Quick Facts

• The funding will be provided as follows:
  
  
  • $93,500 for 2013-14 and 2014-15 for the bi-monthly publication of Victim Matters; and
    
    
  • $50,000 for 2013-14 for the organization to undertake a comprehensive exploration of the history of the victims' movement in Canada since the early 1980s.
    
    
• The funding is being provided through the Department of Justice Canada's Victims Fund. The Victims Fund provides grants and contributions to support projects and activities that encourage the development of new approaches, promote access to justice, improve the capacity of service providers, foster the establishment of referral networks, or increase awareness of services available to victims of crime and their families.
  
  

Quotes

"Our Government is committed to ensuring that children are safe from harm. Canadians are grateful for organizations like the Victims of Violence Canadian Centre for Missing Children, which has been working for almost thirty years to help families with missing children. The funding announced today will go towards helping them provide information, guidance and support to victims of violent crime."

- Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Related Products

- Backgrounder: Federal Victims Strategy and Victims Fund

Associated Links

- Department of Justice Canada's Policy Centre for Victim Issues

- Department of Justice Canada's Victims Fund

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BACKGROUNDER: Federal Victims Strategy and Victims Fund

The Federal Victims Strategy was created in 2007 and made permanent in 2011. The objective of the Strategy, which is led by the Department of Justice Canada, is to give victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice system. The Department of Justice works in close collaboration with other federal institutions, as well as victims, victim advocates, provincial and territorial governments, service providers, and others involved in the criminal justice system. The Department of Justice develops policy and criminal law reform, funds various programs to meet the needs of victims of crime, explores best practices to address victims' needs, and raises awareness about the concerns of victims of crime and their role in the criminal justice system.

Within the Federal Victims Strategy, the Victims Fund is a grants and contributions program administered by the Department of Justice. Funds are available each year to provinces, territories and non-governmental organizations whose projects, activities and operations support the objectives of the Federal Victims Strategy.

The Victims Fund provides funding to projects and activities that:

• Enhance victim assistance programs across Canada;
  
  
• Promote access to justice and participation in the justice system and the development of laws, policies, and programs;
  
  
• Promote the implementation of principles, guidelines, and laws designed to address the needs of victims of crime and articulate their role in the criminal justice system;
  
  
• Contribute to increased knowledge and awareness of the impact of victimization, the needs of victims of crime, available services, assistance and programs, and legislation; and
  
  
• Promote, encourage and/or enhance governmental and non-governmental organizations' involvement in the identification of victims' needs and gaps in services, as well as in the development and delivery of programs, services and assistance to victims, including capacity building within non-governmental organizations.
  
  

Since 2006, the Government of Canada has allocated more than $120 million to give victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice and corrections systems through programs and initiatives delivered by the Department of Justice Canada. This funding includes the allocation of $10.25 million for new or enhanced Child Advocacy Centres, since 2010, to address the needs of child and youth victims of crime.

The Government of Canada is building on past measures to further advance the interests of victims, including:

• Implementing legislation to double the victim surcharge and make it mandatory;
  
  
• Eliminating the faint-hope clause, which allowed murderers to obtain early parole; and
  
  
• Establishing the Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime in 2007.
  
  

More information is available on the Department of Justice Canada's website.