PATHS – Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan
Quick Exit Get Help Now Clear Browser History
  • About
    • About PATHS
      • Philosophy
      • Accountability
    • Membership
  • Resources
    • About Abuse
      • Key Insights: IPV in Saskatchewan
      • Information for Survivors
      • Information for Families & Friends
      • Information for Professionals
      • Children Exposed to Violence
      • Healthy Relationships for Youth
      • About Shelters & Domestic Violence Services
    • Event Calendar
  • Training
    • Live & In-Person Training
    • PATHS Online Training
    • Pre-Employment Training for Gender-Based Violence Professionals
  • Our Work
    • Media
    • Clare’s Law
    • Advocacy
    • Partnerships
  • Research
    • Journal Articles & Reports
    • Animals & IPV
    • Newcomer Women & IPV
    • IPV & the Workplace
    • nato’ we ho win
  • Contact Us
    • Join PATHS Mailing List
    • Staff
  • Donate

News

Reflections on the First Year of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

Nov 09, 2023

The National Action Plan (NAP) to End Gender-based Violence (GBV) was launched on November 9, 2022 by Women and Gender Equality Canada. On the one-year anniversary, the following represents what gender justice organizations know to date, concerns that remain, and recommendations to move forward collectively with government.

What we know:
The bilateral NAP agreements have been negotiated with the provinces and territories over the last year. At the end of July 2023, announcements about the signing of these agreements began. This funding is designated to the five Pillars included in the NAP (1) support for victims, survivors, and their families; 2) prevention; 3) responsive justice systems; 4) implementing Indigenous-led approaches; and 5) social infrastructure and enabling environment), although spending in all Pillars is not required in each year of the agreement. The agreements require 25% of funding to be invested in the Prevention Pillar. How funds are spent is at the discretion of the province or territory, although funding needs to be designated toward investments that had not already been announced and must fit into the five Pillars. Provinces and territories will be required to engage in annual reporting for continued receipt of funds.

As of now, agreements that cover the period 2023/24 to 2026/27 have been announced in the following provinces and territories:

• Alberta – $54.1 million
• Manitoba – $22.3 million
• Northwest Territories – $16.4 million
• Nunavut- $16.4 million
• Prince Edward Island – $9.6 million
• Saskatchewan – $20.3 million
• Yukon – $16.4 million

The content of the signed agreements has not been shared publicly; however, Women and Gender Equality Canada has committed to making the bilateral agreements public once all are signed.

Concerns:
We applaud the government’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence, yet remain concerned, as there are several areas which remain unclear.

The gender justice sector has repeatedly asked for greater accountability and transparency including a recommendation in the NAP Roadmap document for an oversight role for GBV/VAW experts. To date, within provinces and territories, expert organizations have, by and large, been left out of negotiations, including priority setting within bilateral agreements. We also have no clarity on how the NAP will be monitored and evaluated.

For over a decade, the sector has been calling for consistency across and within jurisdictions in policies and legislation that address GBV along with consistent approaches to prevention of and responses to GBV. Although much needed funding is being distributed across the country, there appears to be a lack of coordinated activities and cohesion. While the Federal GBV Strategy could serve to bridge this gap, it remains unclear if and how the NAP and the Federal GBV Strategy connect to one another.

Recommendation:
Many of our concerns stem from a lack of transparency. To address this, we recommend that the federal government immediately proceed with the implementation of the Nova Scotia’s Mass Casualty Commission’s recommendation 17: National Accountability Framework.

“The Commission recommends that: (a) The federal government establish by statute an independent and impartial gender-based violence commissioner with adequate, stable funding, and effective powers, including the responsibility to make an annual report to Parliament. (b) The federal government develop the mandate for the gender-based violence commissioner in consultation with provincial and territorial governments, women survivors including women from marginalized and precarious communities, and the gender-based violence advocacy and support sector.

The commissioner’s mandate could include:
• Working with governments and community organizations to promote coordinated, transparent, and consistent monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Providing a national approach to victim-survivor engagement, to ensure their diverse experiences inform policies and solutions (similar to the Australian Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission).
• Developing indicators for all four levels of activity (individual, relational, community, societal) and reporting to the public at least once a year.
• Establishing and working with an advisory committee that consists of women survivors,
particularly marginalized women survivors, and representatives of the gender-based violence advocacy and support sector.
• Contributing to a national discussion on gender-based violence, including by holding biannual virtual women’s safety symposiums.
• Assisting to coordinate a national research agenda and promoting knowledge sharing.”

Signed,
Collaborators on the Roadmap report:
Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes
Alliance des maisons d’hébergement de 2e étape
Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society
Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Battered Women’s Support Services
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Women’s Foundation
Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change
Ending Violence Association of Canada
Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society
Luke’s Place
Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan
Québec contre les violences sexuelles
Rise Women’s Legal Centre
South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario
West Coast LEAF Association
Yukon Status of Women Council

Latest News

All News
  • Safe and Together CORE Training

    May 13, 2025
  • Journal Article: Newcomer Women’s Experiences of Help-Seeking

    Apr 08, 2025
  • Petition Calling on the Government to Reverse the Ban on Third-Party Educators from Publicly Funded Schools

    Mar 24, 2025
  • Big Changes Ahead: PATHS is Hiring!

    Mar 03, 2025
  • What is Clare’s Law and How Does it Work?

    Mar 03, 2025

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • November 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • June 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • March 2021

PATHS does not provide on-line support. Our website is designed to provide resources and referral numbers to readers.

If you require immediate assistance dial 911.

©2025 PATHS & AbuseHelplines.org | All Rights Reserved | Design by OmniOnline.