Edmonton is the second Canadian city to join a United Nations initiative to make cities safer for women.
Mayor Don Iveson announced Edmonton will partner with the province, women’s groups and other organizations to try addressing and preventing sexual violence.
READ MORE: Six to seven sexual assaults happen every weekend: Edmonton police chief
Watch below: Every weekend, there are six to seven serious sexual assaults in Edmonton. In 2014, Police chief Rod Knecht said the number was disturbing. Shallima Maharaj filed this report on Nov. 19, 2014.
He says the city is taking action so women and girls feel safe and live free of violence.
Edmonton joins Winnipeg and more than 20 other cities around the world, including New Delhi, Cairo and Kigali, Rwanda.
The United Nations safe cities initiative — launched in 2010 — has led to the inclusion of women’s safety audits in urban planning in some of the cities and the banning of sexual harassment in public places in others.
Alberta’s Status of Women Minister Stephanie McLean says the global partnership will help allow women to enjoy public spaces without fear of sexual harassment or assault.
READ MORE: Only 27% of reported sexual assaults in Edmonton result in charges
Watch below: They are sobering numbers. Over the last nine years, more than 7,000 sexual assault complaints have been filed with local police. But only a small percentage end up with charges laid. On June 17, 2016, Shallima Maharaj took a closer look at why.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of UN Women, congratulated Edmonton on joining the initiative.
“By doing this work, you are making sure that we can generate best practices that can be shared with the 24 cities in the world that are part of this UN Women Global Flagship Initiative,” she said in a statement.
The city says it will name a liaison who will co-ordinate efforts with the provincial government and the UN.
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