Sure. If I could, I'll focus on the issue around engaging men and boys, because that was one of the areas we focused on when we were at the UN.
The first time we went to the UN to hold a round table on this issue, there was some interest, but to be honest, not a lot. A year later, we saw Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the UN, create a special committee of male leaders from all over the world to take a stand on ending violence against women and girls. I think engaging men and boys is not only timely, it's essential, so I was really pleased to see the work that was being done not only here in Canada but of course all over the world.
We do believe very strongly—I think all of us do on this committee, and in the House—that this is an issue for all of us. The reality is that men are the perpetrators of violence against women and girls, but the majority of them are good, and they want to help. I think the reality is that a lot of men don't quite know how to participate. Finding ways to involve them in the conversation is really important, because they are mentors, they are fathers, husbands, brothers. They have influence. They're 50% of the population. We need as many allies as we can get on this issue.
The women's movement has led this issue for decades, and that's the way it will continue to be, but we do need men to take a more active role. We need men to step up and speak out on these issues. If they see something, or if they know of something, we need it so that they aren't afraid to speak out. I think that resonated very well with the work being done at the UN, and seeing some of the projects coming forward to Status of Women are really important.
I do want to make the point also that with these kinds of projects, it's important that women's organizations remain involved. What we don't want to have happen is to lose all the great work that women's organizations have done on this issue. They're the ones who have advocated and provided great research, and are doing the front-line service provision.
So the way that we have structured the call for proposals is that men's groups, if they are men's groups, or organizations like the Y, for instance, that may want to work on projects, have to involve women's organizations. I think that's important, because it creates that dialogue that we really need to have happen.
I would say there's a lot of work being done. I mentioned EVA in British Columbia. The flagship project that EVA BC is doing with the BC Lions is called “Be More Than a Bystander”. It has iconic football role models or athletes going into schools, making hundreds of visits into schools, to talk to girls and boys, but specifically targeting the boys about ending violence against women. It's an innovative idea. These are men that the boys look up to. They listen to what they say when they come into the classroom.
That has spurred another program in Manitoba, with the Manitoba government and the Blue Bombers.
The idea is to open up the conversation and look for innovative ideas.
In Brantford, Ontario, the Nova Vita women's shelter has a male-led project to engage male and female students in at-risk schools in promoting awareness of domestic violence against women and girls.
There's also one in London, Ontario, that we're supporting, an initiative called “Changing Ways”. It engages youth aged 12 to 15 and their parents to end gender-based violence and bullying.
There's also a great one in New Brunswick that the YWCA is working on with young girls and boys.
The idea is to look at this from a more holistic point of view, to ensure that boys at a young age know that they also have a responsibility and obligation, and to talk about healthy relationships. I think this is a very important aspect, and an essential aspect, of the conversation to end violence against women and girls moving forward.