Montreal, Novembre 13, 2025 – Submitted in September as part of the government initiative “Breaking the Cycle of Sexual Exploitation – Towards New Government Actions to Prevent and Combat Sexual Exploitation,” this document, available here, represents Marie-Vincent’s contribution to the targeted consultations of the Ministry of Public Security. On November 18, it’s World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violenceas. Established by the UN, Marie-Vincent wishes to remind of the destructive nature of sexual violence against youth, the importance of providing them with adequate support, and the need to prevent this violence from an early age.
Tangible recommendations…
With 50 years of expertise in issues related to sexual violence against youth, Marie-Vincent’s team shared its findings and made recommendations to inform discussions about the government’s future action plan.
“We are pleased to have this opportunity to share our observations from the field. Marie-Vincent, along with its partners, has long supported victims of sexual exploitation, and we are reassured to see that the government is taking another step in the right direction to protect young people.”
— Vickie Gauthier Lefebvre, project manager and trainer at Marie-Vincent, co-writer of the memoir on sexual exploitation
The six recommendations are the following:
- Offer training to community, police, school, and health care workers to improve risk identification and victim support.
- Promote access to practical tools and tailored prevention programs for case workers and professionals.
- Include young people’s voices in the process of developing prevention and intervention content and activities.
- Sustain and expand specialized support services for victims of sexual exploitation, such as the Sphères project, throughout Quebec.
- Establish round tables on sexual exploitation in all regions and consolidate the coordination and funding of existing round tables to ensure their sustainability.
- Enhance and renew the Global Mission Support Program (PMES) for organizations recognized in the field of sexual exploitation to ensure the sustainability of existing projects.
… Based on hands-on work
As mentioned earlier, Marie-Vincent has been a partner in the Sphères project since 2019. This is a collaborative approach that supports young Montrealers, aged 12 to 24, who are victims of sexual exploitation, in building a positive identity, reclaiming their agency, and developing their independence. Over the past six years, Marie-Vincent has supported 185 youth. Through its other projects, it has, among other things, distributed nearly 600 sexual exploitation intervention kits to its partners over the past three years. These kits contain some 30 tools for assessing risks and offering appropriate action.
50 years of existence and a shared vision for the future
Marie-Vincent provides each year essential services to hundreds of families affected by sexual violence and takes practical preventive action to create a safety net for youth in Quebec.
To do so, it works closely with a valuable network of partners, government agencies, and organizations in Quebec and Canada that are active in sensitive areas such as education, health and social services, the socio-judicial system, and community services.
Marie-Vincent is also one of the founding members of the Child and Youth Advocacy Centres across Canada (CYACC), which is formed by some forty organizations across the country that coordinate their efforts and share their expertise.
It can also count on the Marie-Vincent Interuniversity Research Chair, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and has had a major impact on the development of its practices and programs.
All of this work is now being carried out under the leadership of Lisa Clowery, who took over as head of Marie-Vincent last April. With more than 20 years of experience in the charity and philanthropy sector, she is keenly aware of how far the organization has come in half a century, and how much still remains to be done. She brings a vision rooted in collaboration so that Marie-Vincent can stay in touch with new realities and continue to be present, providing direct services and prevention, for all youth in Quebec, whether they are French-speaking, English-speaking, or allophones.
“One in five girls and one in ten boys report having experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. That’s huge, it’s the tip of the iceberg, and yet it’s still taboo. We have a responsibility as a society to prevent, educate, and support. When tragedy strikes, when children go through the unimaginable, our team helps them rebuild their lives and continue to dream. Our work is essential, which is why it is vital to fund the programs of Marie-Vincent and organizations that share its mission.”
— Lisa Clowery, president and CEO of Marie-Vincent
About Marie-Vincent
Marie-Vincent supports children and adolescents who are victims of sexual violence by offering them, under one roof and in collaboration with its partners, the services they need. We help prevent violence by focusing on education and awareness, and by helping children with sexual behavior problems.
To learn more, visit marie-vincent.org/en/
Media contact
Walid Benahmed, organizational Communications Officer
514 285-0505, ext. 202
Cell.: 514 226-0214
