However, femicide prevention cannot be achieved without specialized domestic violence resources. In Quebec and other provinces and territories, resource centres and shelters are running at full capacity and often struggle to meet requests for help from women, who have to wait several weeks before getting services.

Shelters must also turn down requests from community stakeholders, including schools, to give awareness-raising presentations. However, it is important to make children aware from a very young age of the importance of equality and the absence of violence in romantic relationships.

The federal government has a role to play by ensuring that shelters and resource centres have a budget that is commensurate with their intended mission. Funding could come from the first two pillars of the national action plan to end gender-based violence. Funding has already been allocated under these two pillars, but the amounts are insufficient and have not been renewed.

In addition to setting up a strong network of resource centres, shelters and transitional housing here in Canada, we should also be launching public awareness campaigns. We see tangible benefits for victims and their loved ones after every campaign. These campaigns also raise public awareness.

Finally, there is the issue of housing. We would remind you of the importance of access to affordable housing for abused women. According to representatives of our member shelters, three out of four women they support have trouble finding housing that would allow them to break free from their abusive relationship. The inability to find such housing after the breakup is a central concern for victims, but it is also one of the reasons behind the lack of space in shelters. Women are staying in shelters longer because they can't find a place to live. The time for action is now, because housing is also a safety issue for these women.

In conclusion, we hope that these meetings will lead to a better understanding of the underlying causes of femicide and violence against women, as well as the measures that must be taken to fundamentally change attitudes and behaviours to ensure better protection for women and girls in Canada.

Thank you for listening.

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