News Release
2003-29
May 12, 2003
For immediate release
Health Canada committed to World Health Organization's recommendations on violence and
health
VANCOUVER - The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Secretary of State (Children
and Youth), today announced, on behalf of the Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health,
that Health Canada endorses and is committed to continuing its work on realizing the nine
recommendations set out in the World Report on Violence and Health, recently released by
the World Health Organization (WHO).
Ms. Blondin-Andrew made the announcement at the 3rd World Congress on Child & Youth
Health in Vancouver British Columbia, where Dr. Etienne Krug, Director, Violence and Injury
Prevention Program of the WHO, officially presented Ms. Blondin-Andrew with a copy of the
comprehensive report.
Accepting the report on behalf of Health Canada, Ms. Blondin-Andrew stated, "This report
provides a great deal of insight into the link between violence and a multitude of adverse
health and social consequences. Its recommendations constitute an important blueprint for
all jurisdictions and disciplines in addressing this vital issue."
The World Report on Violence and Health is the first comprehensive review of the problem
of violence at a global level. It not only focuses on the scale of the problem, but also
covers issues related to the causes of violence and the methods for preventing violence
and reducing its impact on children, families and communities. In addition to the familiar
issues of collective violence such as war or conflict, the report examines equally significant,
yet frequently overlooked, issues such as child abuse, abuse of older persons, intimate
partner violence, youth violence, sexual violence, and self-inflicted violence and suicide.
Violence kills more than 1.6 million people every year worldwide.
Health Canada undertakes a number of activities in the area of violence and health. For
example, Health Canada leads the Family Violence Initiative (FVI), an interdepartmental
federal response to family violence, involving 12 departments, agencies and Crown Corporations.
The FVI promotes public awareness of the risk factors of family violence and the need for
public involvement in responding to it; strengthens the criminal justice, housing and health
response; and supports data collection, research and evaluation efforts to identify effective
interventions. On behalf of the Government of Canada, Health Canada operates the National
Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV), which collects, develops and disseminates information
and resources on family violence. The NCFV provides a centralized and comprehensive reference,
referral and distribution service for information on prevention, protection, and treatment.
In addition, the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect, initiated
by Health Canada in 1998 in collaboration with the provincial and territorial governments,
collects information to monitor and better understand the extent and dynamics of child
maltreatment reported to child welfare officials. Health Canada has developed parenting
programs and promotes positive parenting practices. Community-based parenting programs
are enhancing the health and social development of at-risk children and their families.
Representatives from organizations around the world are meeting in Vancouver for the 3rd
World Congress on Child and Youth Health. The Congress follows the United Nations General
Assembly Special Session on Children held last year, which helped set the global agenda
for children for the next 10 years. The objective of the Congress is to provide an opportunity
to reflect on the outcomes of the Special Session, and to set an agenda for the future.
For more information on the Congress, please visit:  http://www.venuewest.com.
More information on the World report on violence and health is available at http://www5.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/
Information on the Family Violence Initiative can be found at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/initiative_e.html.
Information on the nine recommendations of the WHO report and the Health Canada activities
relating to these recommendations can be found in the media backgrounder.
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Media Inquiries:
Emmanuel Chabot
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803
Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
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