Ontario Roundtable on Violence Against Women launched

A Thunder Bay gender issues activist is applauding the province's new action plan to stop sexual violence and harassment as the Roundtable on Violence Against Women holds its first meeting Tuesday.

Jayal Chung, thegender issues coordinator with theLakehead University Student Union, was in Toronto last month to provide input intoPremier Kathleen Wynne's "It's Never OK" initiative.

The roundtable will help the government implement the $41 million action plan, launched in earlier March.

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Chung said she sees a connection between gender-based violence and other forms of discrimination like racism.

"There are many other links to ways in which we don't treat each other in respectful ways and actually in very hurtful and violent ways," she told CBC's Up North.

She said she is optimistic that the action plan will help educate the public and support victims. Specifically, she said she hopes to see each campus implement a stand-alone policy about sexual violence, as well as more resources dedicated to supporting victims and improving the campus staff's response to sexual violence.