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May is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month in many regions of Canada. Tragically, isolation measures continue to contribute to spikes in domestic and sexual violence cases. Youth are now more likely to witness gender-based violence, and exposure to intimate partner violence can lead to the perpetuation of similar behaviour in their own relationships. Canada does not currently have a uniform curriculum for educating youth on consent and healthy relationships. Curriculums vary from province to province, many of which are lagging far behind. For Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, the Canadian Women’s Foundation released a National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence. The plan calls for a coordinated federal strategy to help set education standards for provinces and municipalities that would bring about systemic change and increase safety for all.
