Project will focus on developing solutions to prevent, address and report online hate
October 20th, 2020
Toronto, ON – Online hate is on the rise. Young women and non-binary youth are increasingly experiencing cyberviolence. In recent months, we’ve seen disturbing instances of ‘Zoom-bombing’, racist hate speech on virtual platforms and misinformation campaigns targeting communities experiencing marginalization.
Through Public Safety Canada’s Community Resilience Fund, YWCA Canada is receiving $759,762 for their Block Hate: Building Resilience against Online Hate Speech initiative. This is a 4-year research and knowledge mobilization project that will work with a variety of sectors to co-create concrete solutions for online hate speech and hate crimes in communities across Canada.
Maya Roy, CEO of YWCA Canada highlighted, “Online hate speech and cyberviolence has no place in our society. Through our work on the ground in communities across Canada, we see how it threatens the health and wellbeing of the young people we serve every day.”
Roy continued, “Our project will engage in innovative community-based participatory research, develop intersectoral partnerships, and build capacity for youth and organizations in Canada. We hope through this work we will be able to tackle hate speech in real time and make digital spaces safer for youth across the country.”
The project will engage youth aged 14 to 30 in communities across Canada with a focus on youth experiencing marginalization including young women and non-binary youth, Black, Indigenous and youth of colour, LGBTQ2S+ youth, religious minorities, and youth with disabilities.
The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, noted his support for this project, saying, “The Government of Canada is committed to tackling online hate. By collaborating with communities and experts, we can empower young Canadians to speak out against online hate in a safe way.”
For more information on this initiative, please visit YWCA Canada’s project page for Block Hate at: https://ywcacanada.ca/what-we-do/projects-initiatives/block-hate-building-resilience-against-online-hate-speech/
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About Public Safety Canada
The Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence leads the Government of Canada’s efforts to counter radicalization to violence. It directs the Community Resilience Fund, which supports partnerships and innovation in countering radicalization to violence in Canada.
About YWCA Canada
YWCA Canada is a leading voice for women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people. For 150 years, we’ve been at the forefront of a movement: to fight gender-based violence, build affordable housing and advocate for workplace equity. We work to advance gender equity by responding to urgent needs in communities, through national advocacy and grassroots initiatives. Local YWCAs invest over $258 million annually to support over 330,000 individuals across the nation. Today, we engage young leaders, diverse communities, and corporate partners to achieve our vision of a safe and equitable Canada for all.
