Atlantic provinces launch initiative to keep girls cybersafe

Website provides information on how to increase safety on Internet

In celebration of the first International Day of the Girl, the Atlantic ministers responsible for the Status of Women joined students at MacDonald Drive Junior High School in St. John’s, N. L., to launch its Cybersafe Girl website.

The Cybersafe Girl website (www.cybersafegirl.ca) provides young girls, parents, caregivers and educators with information on how girls can experience violence and abuse on the Internet and what can be done to increase cybersafety.

“I am so pleased to be here today to launch this important new website for girls and their caregivers,” said Valerie Docherty, Prince Edward Island’s minister responsible for the Status of Women.

“Girls use social media to be creative, to communicate with friends and to learn. Although social media can be quite useful, it can also have a negative impact on girls. One of the goals of this website is to help girls use social media in a safe way.”

According to 2009 RCMP violent crime statistics, females were victims in 80 per cent of cases of luring minors over the Internet for sexual purposes.

Atlantic ministers have committed to continue to work together to further awareness and increase cybersafety for young girls.

Thursday marked the first International Day of the Girl, as declared by the United Nations.

“On this, the first International Day of the Girl, we are pleased to be highlighting the important issue of cyber- violence against girls in the Atlantic provinces, across Canada, and indeed, all over the world,” said Charlene Johnson, Newfoundland and Labrador’s minister responsible for the Status of Women and host of the Atlantic ministers’ meeting.

“This international day promotes equal treatment and opportunities for girls worldwide, including freedom from violence and abuse.”