Atlantic Ministers responsible for the Status of Women shared their new Cybersafe Girl initiative at the 57th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women this month, said Valerie E. Docherty, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.
“It was an opportunity to speak to NGOs and other Canadian delegates about the importance of the initiative, and the response was very supportive,” Docherty said.
“It is a whole new world out there, full of both new opportunities as well as new threats. There’s a lot of work for all of us to help girls stay cybersafe.”
Docherty, as chair, led the presentation with her Atlantic minister counterparts at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations on March 6 in New York. They presented their five-year initiative to help combat cyber violence against girls.
In 2010, the Status of Women Ministers from Atlantic Canada committed to working together to create awareness and undertake prevention initiatives to address cyber violence perpetrated against girls on the Internet and through social media.
“Research shows that young women experience the highest rates of cyber violence and are more likely to be victims of online predators and other sexual criminal offences,” Docherty said. “Responding to this emerging threat will require sustained and coordinated efforts on the part of government, educators, advocates and community services providers, and families.”
The priority theme of this year’s United Nations Commission on the Status of Women was the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.
Docherty says the safety of girls continues to be the vision behind the Cybersafe Girl initiative.
BACKGROUNDER
The Atlantic Advisory Committee was tasked to work to develop recommendations for an effective Atlantic five-year action plan to address the impact of social media on girls. The collaborative project was launched on October 11, 2012, the first United Nations International Day of the Girl.
As part of the joint initiative, the Atlantic Provinces worked together on the creation of The Cybersafe Girls website.
During the Spring of 2012, the Prince Edward Island Interministerial Women’s Secretariat sought feedback for the design of the Cybersafe Girls website through the assistance of Women’s Network PEI, a provincial Women’s Organization.
Through Women’s Network PEI “Girls Circle” project, four focus groups were conducted with Island girls ages 8-17. Their feedback resulted in the development of a website www.cybersafegirl.ca and included an online safety agreement girls can sign with their parents or caregivers.