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Joint Declaration for a Canada free of Gender-based violence

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On January 22, 2021, at their 38th annual ministerial meeting, the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of Women endorsed the Joint Declaration for a Canada free of Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

This declaration is a historic milestone in the response to GBV and the advancement of gender equality for people across Canada. This federal, provincial and territorial collaboration represents an important step in developing a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence in Canada.

In December 2021, at their 39th annual meeting, FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women agreed to their commitment and collaboration to advance towards a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.Footnote*

During this meeting, two infographics prepared by Women and Gender Equality Canada as part of the Workplan of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Task Team on Gender-Based Violence and Access to Justice 2021-2023 were presented:  Gender-based Violence (GBV) in Canada: A Snapshot and Gender-based Violence (GBV) against Indigenous Peoples in Canada: A Snapshot.

Joint Declaration for a Canada free of Gender-based violence

We, the Federal, ProvincialFootnote*, and Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, share a fundamental commitment to work toward a Canada free of gender-based violence. Together, we announce our common vision, principles, goals and pillars for a National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, which will be an evolving approach to guide our actions in preventing and addressing gender-based violence.

Building on our ongoing work, we recognize that:

We, the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women acknowledge the urgency to address the multiple, complex and deeply rooted factors that contribute to gender-based violence. We commit to continue to work together and with other departments, agencies and ministries, partners, stakeholders, experts, survivors, families and people with lived experience to create a Canada free of gender-based violence, where victims, survivors and their families are supported no matter where they live. More than ever, there is a strong need to prevent and address gender-based violence in our country.

To achieve this vision, we agree that concrete efforts are required at the federal, provincial and territorial levels. We further commit to ensuring that our efforts align with and complement our responses to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice.

This joint declaration represents a significant milestone and is the first step to continue, accelerate and strengthen the concrete actions that we have been carrying out for decades to end gender-based violence. We commit to continuing to collaborate closely to work towards the development of a National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence.

National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: A High-Level Framework for Joint Action

The Challenge

Gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive, deadly and deeply-rooted human rights violations. It is a significant barrier to achieving gender equality, but it is preventable.

Vision

A Canada free of gender-based violence. A Canada that supports victims, survivors and their families, no matter where they live.

Timing

Ten years

Shared Responsibility

Preventing and addressing gender-based violence necessitates coordinated and collaborative actions from federal, provincial and territorial governments, each working within their respective jurisdictional authorities, in close partnership with survivors, Indigenous partners, civil society, front-line service providers, municipalities, the private sector and researchers. Joint efforts in support of this National Action Plan will align with and complement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice.

Guiding Principles

Goals

Pillars

The Foundation

Implementing and monitoring this Plan requires collaboration within and across governments and Indigenous partners; and engagement with victims, survivors and their families, direct service providers, experts, and researchers. Federal, provincial, territorial efforts are complemented by local/community approaches and responses. Knowledge mobilization of surveillance data, research findings, and frontline expertise will support evidence-based policy and program development.

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