#AfterMeToo aims to bring solidarity against sexual violence to Canadian Screen Awards

After the #MeToo and Time's Up movements made waves throughoutthe American award season with powerful statements against sexual assault and harassment,the homegrown #AfterMeTooinitiative is hoping this Sunday's Canadian Screen Awards will also see celebrities standing in solidarity against sexual violence.

"We hope that people will be wearing our pins and be talking about the problem of workplace sexual harassment," Toronto actress and #AfterMeToo co-founder Mia Kirshner told CBC News.

"The problem has not stopped, and solutions have not been created yet," she added. "By wearing the pin, it's representative of lending their voice to helping this stop."

The group, which is aimed at improving culture, legislation and policies surrounding sexual misconduct in the screen industry, also announceda fund which aims totackle the increased demand that sexual violence support centres have faced in the wake of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements.

Kirshnersaid the group hopes to raise $7 million within six months.

"We all know how expensive support service is,"she said."No one should have to wait a year for help. It's not acceptable. We are going to raise the amount."

9 recommendations to combat sexual violence

#AfterMeToo also released a report with nine recommendations to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Among the actions #AfterMeToo would like to see taken is the creation of an independent, national organization to address sexual violence in the entertainmentindustry.

The report also calls for increased funding to support services available to survivors of sexual assault and harassment across Canada, and to help with investigatinghistorical cases in the industry.

Another recommendation includedin the report is the creation of a "safety fund" for assault or harassment survivors within the industryto access counselling and legal advice.

Even with the release of the report, the creation of the#AfterMeToo fund and a successfulsymposium under its belt, Kirshner said there's still much more to come from #AfterMeToo.