Safe Music Inc backstory

While notable strides have been taken towards creating a safer and more inclusive environment in the classical music world, abuse, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are still prevalent.

"Nearly 1 in 2 women and roughly 3 in 10 men report ever experiencing harassment or sexual assault in the workplace. In Canada, 31% of men and 47% of women reported ever experiencing some form of harassment or sexual assault in the workplace.The largest proportion of women reported ever experiencing inappropriate sexualized behaviours in a workplace setting (44%), followed by discriminatory behaviours (20%) and sexual assault (13%). A considerable proportion of men also reported ever experiencing inappropriate sexualized behaviours (29%), as well as discriminatory behaviours (9%) and sexual assault (3%) in the workplace.” -Statistics Canada (2024)

• Quoted from Gender Results Framework: A new data table on workplace harassment, collaborative work between the Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics and the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety
• Read More from that study to learn why the Canada Safe Music Program is necessary

“Canadians responding to our online survey told us that harassment and sexual violence in workplaces are underreported, often due to fear of retaliation, and that when they are reported, they are not dealt with effectively. We know that these incidents have profound negative effects, such as harming workers’ health and safety, increasing absenteeism, and costs for employers.”  -Minister of Employment, Workplace Development and Labour, Government of Canada, on the findings from an online survey and extended study on harassment and sexual violence in the workplace (2017)

• Learn more about Harassment and Sexual Violence in the Workplace, the Ministers' message, executive summary, key findings and more​

These survey results, statistics, and lived stories inspired a deeper dive into what is currently in place,
and what is missing in music, resulting in the Safe Music Initiative.

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