Backgrounder - Status of Women Canada: Women's Program

The objective of the Women's Program is to achieve the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada. Funding is provided to eligible organizations in support of projects at the local, regional and national levels that address the following three priority areas:

• Ending violence against women and girls
• Improving women's and girls' economic security and prosperity
• Encouraging women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles

Funding is available for time-specific projects of 36 months or less that address barriers to women's participation and equality in Canadian society. Eligibility is determined by the Women's Program's funding criteria. Funding is not provided for ongoing activities, such as an organization's operations and administration.

Through Status of Women Canada, the government's support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006/2007, from $10.8 million to close to $19 million per year, its highest level ever.

Since 2007, more than $54 million in funding has been approved for projects that seek to address violence against women and girls.

More information is available on Status of Women Canada's web site: http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca.

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Status of Women Canada
January 2013