Street Gangs
« TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE ACTION »: PROJECT FOR THE PREVENTION OF THE RECRUTEMENT OF YOUNG GIRLS INTO STREET GANGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
In accordance with the Quebec street gang intervention plan, the three year action-research project « Tools for Effective Action » seeks to increase our capacity of municipal and community sectors to prevent the recruitment of girls into street gangs for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Following our preliminary work (review of literature and existing services, interviews with community workers and other implicated persons) presented during McGill University’s annual feminist Symposium on May 14th 2010, the sexual exploitation of young women revealed itself to be a complex issue and demonstrated that the coercive factor does not in itself explain the affiliation girls make with street gangs, but that it is appropriate to reflect on this phenomenon in terms imaginary constructions, strategies as well as individual and collective beliefs. Moreover, thanks to financing from the Ministry of public Security and the Greater Montreal Foundation, we are developing a series of tools (trainings, activity kit, workshops, games, videos…) which broaches this phenomenon and links it with others such as sexualization, economic violence, or emotional dependency. Through « Tools for Effective Action » professionals will further understand realities relative to street gangs, will be able to better identify the risk and protection factors for girls; they will also learn a preventative, tried and true method.
(An article on the topic will soon be published and the Quebec training tour will take place in 2010-2011)
For more information on this subject
Amélie Proulx or Lucy Anacleto
514.866.9941, poste 232
Pilot program « Tools for Effective Action » activity participants from Montcalm de Montréal Primary School, March 2010
