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OTTAWA — Kathleen Wynne says she’s determined to use her influence as Ontario’s first female premier to improve the lot of all women — starting with an action plan on sexual violence and harrassment to be unveiled today.

The premier says the plan will include a variety of initiatives, including a public education campaign aimed at raising awareness of the problem and challenging societal norms and beliefs.

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She says victims must be better supported, ensuring that women who are “brave enough” to come forward with complaints aren’t re-victimized.

If we don’t talk about it… then we are doing nothing to stop it from happening again and again and again

As well, Wynne says laws need to be strengthened to keep workplaces and post-secondary campuses free from sexual violence and harrassment.

Above all, she says the plan aims to change deep-rooted attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence against women.

Wynne gave a preview of the action plan, which is meant to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, during a symposium Thursday on women in politics at the University of Ottawa — an institution that has suffered its own recent scandals involving sexual misconduct.