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THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA SUPPORTS VICTIMS OF CRIME
OTTAWA, April 27, 2009—The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety, today pledged to continue the Government of Canada's support for victims of crime as they launched the fourth Annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week at a federal symposium in Ottawa.
“Supporting victims takes a collaborative effort, and this Government is committed to continuing to work with our partners to help victims of crime navigate the criminal justice system,” said Minister Nicholson. “It is important that we all work together to ensure that victims of crime have a greater voice and more access to available services.”
Minister Nicholson also announced the launch of a new online Victim Services Directory that will connect victims of crime with services available in their local communities. Developed by the Department of Justice's Policy Centre for Victim Issues, the directory lists more than 350 organizations from all across the country that provide services to victims. This valuable tool enables victims and family members to identify local services in their area. It can be found at http://victimservices.justice.gc.ca.
The theme of this year's National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, taking place from April 26 to May 2, is “Supporting, Connecting, Evolving.” The week provides an opportunity to raise awareness about victim issues and about the programs, services and laws that help victims of crime and their families.
“This Government recognizes that crime places a heavy toll on individual victims, their families, communities and society-at-large,” said Minister Van Loan. “We have been strengthening our policies and laws to improve public safety and I am pleased to be part of launching this fourth annual National Victim of Crime Awareness Week. This Week connects us to victim issues and highlights the need for our ongoing support.”
The federal symposium, hosted by the Government of Canada, was attended by more than 200 participants, including victims, victim advocates, victim service providers, non-governmental organizations, and policy makers. In addition to the symposium, more than 80 communities across the country will hold events this week to support victims of crime and to raise awareness of victim issues.
National Victims of Crime Awareness Week is organized by the Department of Justice Policy Centre for Victim Issues, in partnership with Public Safety Canada’s National Office for Victims, the RCMP, the National Parole Board, the Correctional Service of Canada, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, and a national organizing committee composed of victims, representatives of government and non-governmental victim organizations and victim service providers.
Further information can be found on the following Web sites:
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National Victims of Crime Awareness Week
http://www.victimsweek.gc.ca -
Policy Centre for Victim Issues at the Department of Justice Canada
http://www.justice.gc.ca -
National Office for Victims of Crime at the Department of Public Safety Canada
http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca
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