Whitehorse women’s groups and the local RCMP will sign a safety protocol, called Together for Safety, at noon Friday.

The women’s groups include the Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle, Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society, Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre, Public Service Alliance of Canada Aboriginal People’s Committee and Regional Women’s Committee, Yukon Status of Women Council, and Les EssentiElles.

The idea to create Together for Safety came from the Together for Justice Protocol between Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society and Watson Lake RCMP. The theme is, “There’s only one side, we’re all on it.”

The goal of Together for Safety is to ensure that the collaborative relationship that was built between Whitehorse women’s groups and the RCMP during the creation of the Together for Justice continues.

“Together for Safety builds on the ground breaking work of Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society and Watson Lake RCMP on Together for Justice,” said Barbara McInerney, executive director of Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society.

“It has always been important to women’s groups that the responses to victims of violence are always helpful and preserve dignity.

“Together for Safety will ensure that we continue to collaborate and work to improve responses to women and girls.”

The signatory members and the Whitehorse RCMP share a common goal: to improve response services to women in Whitehorse.

By strengthening relationships – between the RCMP and women’s advocacy groups as well as between the police and the women they seek to support – it’s hoped they will build mutual understanding and trust.

“While the RCMP has always encouraged its members to communicate effectively with its citizens, partners and stakeholders, this agreement promotes the RCMP and Whitehorse women’s groups working together, which in my view puts us all in a better position to better support the women in our community,” said detachment commander Archie Thompson.

“The bottom line here is that together we are stronger.”

The signing of Together for Safety will be open to the public and lunch will be provided.

It will begin at noon tomorrow at The Old Fire Hall on Front Street.