Rogers Media forcing issues of sexual assault out into the open with year-long Project 97 campaign

Rogers Media is getting a lot of attention -- and praise -- for its Project 97. Over the course of the next 12 months, Rogers publishing and broadcasting outlets, including Chatelaine, Maclean’s, Canadian Business, Flare, Today’s Parent, Châtelaine, L’actualité and CityNews will explore, on air, in print and online the issues of sexual assault, abuse and harassment as it affects both women and men.

The name of the project is drawn from the fact that 97 per cent of sexual assaults against women in Canada are either never recorded as crimes by police or assault victims come forward and then withdraw their testimony because many find the highly adversarial courtroom experience to be as grisly as the original assault.

“The best solution, if there is such a thing, is for people to know that it’s not going to be quiet anymore,” says Cheri DiNovo, a Toronto member of the Ontario legislature who shared her own story of rape by an ex-boyfriend for the project.”This is not going to be hush-hush.”

 http://www.project97.ca/en/