Thursday, May 24, 2012
Ontario Women's Directorate
Expanding Support For Survivors Of Sexual Violence
Ontario is helping about 1,000 more women a year who are victims of sexual violence get access to social, health care and legal services in their own languages.
The government is expanding the Language Interpreter Services (LIS) program to survivors of sexual violence who do not speak English or French. This includes sign language interpretation for victims who are Deaf, oral deaf, deafened and hard of hearing and are also victims of domestic or sexual violence. Ontario previously funded spoken language interpretation only for victims of domestic violence.
Expanding Ontario's support for interpreter services means that approximately 7,000 women will get help each year.
Breaking down language barriers to provide women better access to the help they need is part of the McGuinty government's Sexual Violence Action Plan, launched in March 2011.
Quotes:
"Sexual violence crosses all social boundaries, affects women of every age and cultural background, and has devastating impacts on the lives of victims and their families. We are ensuring that every woman has access to the supports that she needs to move forward with her life."
- Laurel Broten, Minister Responsible for Women's Issues
"Expanding the Language Interpreter Service program to include victims of sexual violence and those who are Deaf, oral deaf, deafened and hard of hearing will improve access to vital services. This will ensure more people in Don Valley West and beyond can benefit from programs at Multilingual Community Interpreter Services."
- Kathleen Wynne, MPP Don Valley West
"Victims of sexual violence need our support. With the expansion of the LIS program, more women will be able to access our critical services, tell their stories in their own languages, including sign language, and get the help they need."
- Latha Sukumar
Executive Director, Multilingual Community Interpreter Services (MCIS), Toronto
Quick Facts:
- May is Sexual Assault Prevention Month.
- The Language Interpreter Services program supports a network of agencies that deliver interpreter services across Ontario so thousands of victims of violence can get the help they need.
- Ontario's Language Interpreter Services program is available in more than 70 languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in person, by telephone or through videoconferencing.
Learn More:
Contacts:
Grahame Rivers
Minister’s Office
416-326-6567
Marielle Picher
Communications Branch
416-314-7010
marielle.picher@ontario.ca
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