On Monday, May 29, Marco Mendicino, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, launched Victims and Survivors of Crime Week by delivering opening remarks at the Federal Symposium in Calgary.
“The empowerment of victims involves acknowledging the harms done to individuals and communities through the commission of a crime,” said Wilson-Raybould. “The Government of Canada is pleased to host the Victims and Survivors of Crime Week Symposium and to provide funding for community events across the country that help raise awareness about the issues facing victims and survivors of crime and the services and laws in place to help them and their families.”
This year, the theme for Victims and Survivors of Crime Week is “Empowering Resilience.”
This theme recognizes the many ways that personal resilience can help victims and survivors in the aftermath of victimization, and the ways in which victim service providers recognize the inherent strength of victims and survivors of crime and support them to emerge from their victimization with hope for the future.
A well-functioning criminal justice system is one that protects the vulnerable, holds offenders to account, and builds safer communities. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that our criminal justice system responds to the immediate and ongoing needs of victims and survivors of crime and treats all Canadians in a just, fair and compassionate manner.
Victims and Survivors of Crime Week is a Justice Canada annual outreach initiative. Its goal is to raise awareness about the issues facing victims and survivors of crime and the services and laws in place to help them and their families. It is also about acknowledging the dedicated work of service providers who assist victims and survivors of crime and their families. The Federal Symposium includes workshops on topics that include restorative justice, supporting the loved ones of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, building resilience and facilitating recovery for victims of crime, and decolonizing the Canadian criminal justice system.
Quick Facts
– Victims and Survivors of Crime Week takes place from May 28 to June 3, 2017.
– The Government of Canada has provided $1,258,421 in funding to community organizations in support of 195 Victims and Survivors of Crime Week projects and events in every province and in the territories. Find all the events and projects at www.victimsweek.gc.ca.
– This funding is made available through the Department of Justice Canada’s Victims Fund. In 2016-17, the Victims Fund made more than $24 million overall available to provincial and territorial governments and non-governmental organizations to increase awareness and knowledge of victim issues, legislation, and services available, as well as to develop and deliver programs, services, and assistance to meet gaps in services for victims of crime.
– This year’s Victims and Survivors of Crime Week includes the presentation of the inaugural Excellence in Victim Service Award. This award recognizes an individual who has empowered victims and survivors of crime, inspired service providers or achieved meaningful change that has helped Canadians recover from the harms caused by crimes.
Source: Department of Justice Canada