Backgrounder: Federal Victims Strategy and Victims Fund

In 2007, the Government announced the Federal Victims Strategy and committed $52 million over four years to respond to the needs of victims of crime. In Budget 2011, the Government announced $26 million over two years in renewed funding for the Federal Victims Strategy.  Most recently, in Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government committed $7 million over five years for additional funding for new or enhanced child advocacy centres and other victim-serving non-governmental organizations.

The objective of the Strategy, which is led by the Department of Justice Canada, is to give victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice system. The Policy Centre for Victim Issues at the Department of Justice works in close collaboration with federal colleagues as well as victims, victim advocates, provincial and territorial governments, service providers and others involved in the criminal justice system. The Department of Justice develops legal policy and criminal law reform, funds various programs for victims of crime, and shares information about issues of importance to victims of crime.

Within the Federal Victim Strategy, the Victims Fund is a grants and contributions program administered by the Department of Justice. Funds are available each year to fund provinces, territories and non-governmental organizations whose projects, activities and operations support the objectives of the Federal Victims Strategy.

The Victims Fund funds projects and activities that:

• enhance victim assistance programs across Canada;
• promote access to justice and participation in the justice system and the development of law, policies, and programs;
• promote the implementation of principles, guidelines, and laws designed to address the needs of victims of crime and articulate their role in the criminal justice system;
• contribute to increased knowledge and awareness of the impact of victimization, the needs of victims of crime, available services, assistance and programs, and legislation; and
• promote, encourage and/or enhance governmental and non-governmental organizations’ involvement in the identification of victim needs and gaps in services and in the development and delivery of programs, services and assistance to victims, including capacity building within non-governmental organizations (NGO).

More information is available on the Department of Justice Canada’s Web site.

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Department of Justice Canada
June, 2012