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Engagement Process

Federal Strategy on Gender-based Violence

Engaging with Canadians

Throughout the summer and fall of 2016, the former Minister of Status of Women heard from Canadians from across the provinces and territories – including survivors, frontline workers, researchers, and advocates– about gender-based violence.

Through roundtables, meetings, online submissions, and surveys, Canadians shared their experiences and insights to inform the development of a Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, including suggested roles for the federal government.

To learn more about the engagement process, read Breaking the Silence, Final Report of the Engagement Process for the Federal Strategy to Address Gender-based Violence.

To learn more about gender-based violence in Canada and about the guiding principles supporting the development of the Strategy, please consult: Setting the Stage for a Federal Strategy against Gender-based Violence (PDF).

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council on the Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence was established on June 27, 2016. The Advisory Council is serving as a forum to exchange views, promising practices and research on issues related to gender-based violence.

The members of the Advisory Council come from a broad range of sectors and areas of expertise. They have been selected to reflect expertise in prevention, supporting survivors and justice and other system responses. They will also speak to the particular barriers facing diverse groups such as Indigenous women and girls, young women and girls, LGBTQ2 and non-conforming persons, newcomer and migrant women and girls, and women and girls with disabilities.

Learn about the Members

Who is involved and why?

Federal Government: The Minister of Status of Women is working with her ministerial colleagues to identify key federal actions to reduce and prevent gender-based violence, and to strengthen the way the federal government works to address this issue.

Provincial/Territorial Governments: Provincial/territorial governments have a key role to play in preventing and addressing gender-based violence in areas such as health care, social services, child protection and policing, among others. It is important that the Strategy complement this role by building on and aligning with the violence strategies and initiatives already being implemented by provincial and territorial governments.

Academia, civil society and front-line service providers: Hearing from experts will help the government to identify promising practices, build on lessons learned, determine priorities and ensure that the Strategy is effective and based on the best available evidence.

Survivors: The Government of Canada recognizes that survivors of violence must have a voice in the development of the Strategy. It is important to ensure that the Strategy is informed by the experiences, needs and challenges of those who are most directly affected by gender-based violence, including survivors.

Canadians were also given the opportunity to comment through an online survey and via email to Status of Women Canada at FinALAViolence-EndViolence@swc-cfc.gc.ca.

What we heard

The Government of Canada met with experts/advocates and survivors from across the country to discuss priorities and actions that will address and prevent gender-based violence. Summaries of key meetings are provided below.

You may send your comments on the summaries by email to Status of Women Canada at FinALAViolence-EndViolence@swc-cfc.gc.ca.

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