Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

On May 22nd, 2015 Elyse Lauzon-Alguire (Executive Director of Koala Place) advocated on behalf of Koala Place and the Ontario Network of Child and Youth Advocacy Centres, to the Select Committee on Sexual Violence and Harassment in Ottawa. The Select Committee has been appointed to make recommendations to the Legislature with respect to the prevention of sexual violence and harassment and to improving the response to Ontarians who have experienced sexual violence and harassment.

Koala Place and the Ontario CYAC Network support the Provincial "It's never Ok" Action Plan to stop sexual violence and harassment. CYACs are now recognized as a leading practice model to ensure better access to the justice system for children and youth. Recommendation was made to the Select Committee to make CYACs part of the solution to the Provincial "It's never Ok" Action Plan.

The presentation also included an overview of Koala Place, as well as recommendations geared towards prevention activities. Some of the recommendations presented were: the wide adoption of the Respect Ed Violence and Abuse Prevention Program, an increase in training/awareness regarding the effects of child abuse and violence, how to report abuse and bystander intervention, as well as the implementation of effective child protection/child sexual abuse prevention policies within local businesses and organizations.

Koala Place is a learning organization, and is committed to the ongoing effort to understand abuse of children and youth. Abuse and violence is a serious and complex public health problem. It is essential to take further action in order to prevent this from happening and to keep our children and youth safe.

For more information, please visit us on http://www.koalaplace.ca