White Ribbon Empowers Practitioners to Prevent Incel Radicalization in Ontario
June 25 2024 - 9:00AM
White Ribbon, a leading organization dedicated to promoting gender
equity and preventing all forms of gender-based violence and
discrimination, proudly announces $2,540,290 in new funding over
five years under Public Safety Canada’s Community Resilience Fund.
This contribution will enable White Ribbon to develop and implement
a comprehensive Incel Radicalization Prevention Program, forging
strategic partnerships with subject matter experts and professional
associations across Ontario.
In response to
current societal challenges, there is an urgent need for early
identification of misogynist, and other hate-fueled attitudes, to
better support male youth in developing equitable and authentic
relationships and promote their mental health and
wellness. White Ribbon's Program acts as a proactive force
in mitigating harm and violence associated with the involuntary
celibate (incel) movement.
The Incel
Radicalization Prevention Program aims to 'professionalize the
practice' within key service providers that frequently
interact with young men susceptible to joining or already engaged
in the incel movement. White Ribbon will create evidence-based
resources and practices, hold multi-sectoral forums and implement a
multi-year social marketing campaign. The Program will better equip
frontline practitioners to apply strength-based and proactive
approaches to more effectively interrupt the proliferation of
hateful attitudes amongst male youth they interact with on a daily
basis, while also contributing to the sustainability of healthy
masculinities and equitable beliefs.
Public Safety Canada's
generous support is integral to the success of this initiative,
allowing representatives from professional bodies in the education,
community child and youth services, and mental health sectors to
actively engage in guiding the strategic approach. White Ribbon is
honoured to collaborate with esteemed partners such as the Ontario
Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, the Ontario English Catholic
Teachers’ Association, the Ontario Association of Child and Youth
Care, the John Howard Society of Ontario, the Ontario Association
of Social Workers, Action Ontarienne Contre la Violence Faite aux
Femmes and the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals.
Together, these organizations will play a pivotal role in shaping
capacity-building initiatives aimed at preventing incel
radicalization.
“White Ribbon
remains steadfast in its commitment to creating a safer and more
equitable society for all” said Humberto Carolo, Chief Executive
Officer of White Ribbon. “Through a collaborative approach
between White Ribbon, our valued partners, and the support of
Public Safety Canada, we embark on a transformative journey to
address key equity issues and prevent the radicalization of male
youth in the incel movement.”
White Ribbon is the
world’s largest movement of men and boys working together to
promote gender equity, healthy relationships, allyship and a new
vision of masculinity. White Ribbon’s vision is a future free from
all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination. Since its
inception in Toronto in 1991, The White Ribbon Campaign has spread
to over 60 countries around the world. Please visit our website at:
www.whiteribbon.ca.
Public Safety Canada
coordinates federal departments and agencies across the Government
of Canada that are responsible for national security and the safety
of Canadians. The department’s Canada Centre for Community
Engagement and Prevention of Violence (Canada Centre) was launched
in 2017 to lead the Government of Canada’s efforts to counter
radicalization to violence. Public Safety Canada’s Community
Resilience Fund provides financial support to organizations working
to improve Canada's understanding of and capacity to prevent and
counter violent extremism. Visit the Canada Centre website at:
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/bt/cc/index-en.aspx
“By supporting
initiatives like White Ribbon’s Incel Radicalization Prevention
Program, we are supporting crucial prevention efforts against the
spread of misogynist and other hate-fueled extremist ideologies.
Promoting healthy relationships fosters safety, inclusivity and
respect for all.”
- The Honourable
Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions
and Intergovernmental Affairs
Organization
Contact for Media Inquiries:
David Garzon Director, Marketing and Communications, White
Ribbon +1 416-920-6684 x 17 dgarzon@whiteribbon.ca
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d683daef-626d-4d4b-9394-bb968dd62eb3