"Everyone has a right to feel safe"
The Government of Canada has increased its support for projects aiding victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their families. Led by Luke's Place, a dedicated support and resource center for women and children, these initiatives aim to provide specialized services, resources, and information to those affected by IPV.
Gary Anandasangaree, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Ryan Turnbull, Member of Parliament for Whitby, Ontario, announced the Government's financial assistance to four key projects by Luke's Place.
“The violence doesn’t end when a woman leaves an abusive partner; in fact, the risks for her and her children may increase,” said Carol Barkwell, founding executive director at Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre for Women and Child.
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“Women who have been subjected to intimate partner violence need critical supports as they navigate the complex family court system,” she said. “The Department of Justice is an important partner in our efforts to provide these supports.”
“With this funding, Luke’s Place is deepening our support to women with intersecting identities, enhancing our legal clinic services, developing new trainings and public legal education resources and expanding our collaborations with other community-based organizations and legal stakeholders across Ontario and Canada.”
The Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, funded by Justice Canada with $2,409,915, is the driving force behind two projects that focus on enhancing services for IPV survivors.
What are these projects?
The Expanding Services and Enhancing Access to Virtual Independent Legal Advice for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence project aims to broaden women's access to free independent legal advice and representation by expanding the existing Virtual Legal Clinic. It also involves recruiting, training, and mentoring additional pro-bono lawyers.
The Addressing Gaps in Family Court Support Services for IPV Survivors in Ontario through Enhanced Services and Knowledge Mobilization and Supporting National Capacity Building Activities project extends outreach services to marginalized and underserved communities. It also offers development tools and resources to enhance IPV survivors' safety and experiences in family court.
“Everyone has a right to feel safe. I applaud the tremendous work that Luke’s Place is doing to support women, children and survivors of Intimate Partner Violence,” said Gary Anandasangaree, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
“Their tailored approach to the specific needs of women and their families will have a tremendous positive affect on the Durham community. This investment supports our ongoing efforts, such as those set out in the federal Gender-based Violence Strategy, to improve access to justice and fairness in our justice system for all Canadians.”
Moreover, through the Canadian Family Justice Fund, Justice Canada has allocated $291,755 to support Luke's Place initiatives that improve access to justice for women and their families navigating the family justice system.
What are these initiatives?
The Building Awareness about Divorce Act Changes Impacting Women project, which aids women in underserved areas through an outreach campaign on the March 2021 changes to the Divorce Act regarding parenting arrangements. This initiative also delivers training to service providers on these changes, with a focus on addressing family violence effectively.
The Strengthening Access to Justice in Family Court project, which strives to enhance access to family justice for women by providing research-based training to lawyers. The goal is to ensure that services align with the complex safety needs of women and their families.
“Canadians expect high-quality and efficient services that are safe, accessible, and women and their families navigating the justice system deserve to have access to effective legal education and support,” said Ryan Turnbull, M.P., Member of Parliament for Whitby, Ontario.
“The Government of Canada’s support for Luke’s Place’s initiatives will help empower women and families of women who are survivors of IPV by proving high quality, women-focused supports and legal information,” he said.