OTTAWA - Justice Minister Rob Nicholson says the federal government will spend $5.25 million over five years to help children who are victims of crime.
He says the money will bolster existing services and create new advocacy centres for child victims.
The centres will have teams of professionals who can help child victims or witnesses navigate the criminal justice system.
Nicholson says this kind of help can reduce emotional trauma for the victims and improve the quality of evidence at trials.
The last federal budget set aside $6.6 million over two years for crime victims.
Statistics Canada says just over 75,000 children and youth were victims of police-reported violent crime in 2008.
A report by the federal victims ombudsman last year found that, after suffering sexual abuse, victimized children often visit as many as 10 different locations before actually getting any help.
Nicholson said the advocacy centres will change that.
"Today's investment will assist in making it easier for children's voices to be heard throughout our criminal justice system," he said.
