Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson just announced that our Government will be investing in and establishing and upgrading Child Advocacy Centres across Canada to better support young victims and witnesses of crime.

Our Government is committed to supporting victims of crime, particularly the most vulnerable among us – our children.

• The Child Advocacy Centres will make a significant contribution by helping young victims and witnesses of crimes while reducing trauma so that they are better able to provide strong evidence that can lead to more convictions and appropriate sentences.
• This investment will assist in making it easier for children’s voices to be heard throughout the criminal justice system.
• This initiative builds on 2007’s ‘Federal Victims Strategy’; our Government’s $52 million plan to respond to the needs of Canadians victimized by crime. 
• We have also just introduced legislation that will amend the Criminal Code to provide tougher mandatory prison sentences for those who commit sexual offences against children and youths.
• Our Government is committed to protecting children against sexual exploitation by ensuring that the punishment imposed in child sexual abuse cases better reflects the extremely serious nature of these heinous crimes, giving victims – not criminals –a stronger voice in the criminal justice system.