Federal Government Announces Gender-Based Violence Funding Agreement

“COVID-19 has severely impacted the most vulnerable, including women and children facing violence, but there can be no full recovery from this pandemic unless women are safe, working, and their families are cared for. The $100 million in emergency funding our government has provided will help frontline organizations keep their doors open to those in need and continue their lifesaving work at this challenging time. To those facing violence at home, help is available. Our government has provided funding to over 1500 women’s and equality-seeking organizations since 2015, including, most recently, 63 organizations receiving funding to support survivors of human trafficking.”

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development

“Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, gender-based violence, including sexual abuse and exploitation, and intimate partner violence was far too common in Canada. This unprecedented time has brought with it challenges that many organizations could not manage alone. Thanks to this funding, women and girls in need can continue relying on timely services which will save lives.”

Paulette Senior, President and Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Women’s Foundation

“Women’s shelters and transition houses have worked for decades to support women and children experiencing violence, often with limited funds to do so. We know that the rates and severity of domestic violence have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with shelters needing even more support just to keep their doors open. This funding will help ensure that this lifesaving work can continue.”

Lise Martin, Executive Director
Women’s Shelters Canada

• Today’s funding announcement is in addition to the federal strategy to prevent and address GBV – a $200 million investment from 2017/18 to 2022/23, with $40 million annually ongoing.
• As part of the federal strategy, Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) has created the Gender-based Violence Knowledge Centre, an online source of information for research, data and promising practices.  The Knowledge Centre is intended to inform coordinated and evidence-based approaches to preventing and addressing GBV across Canada.
• Understanding experiences of GBV across the country is critical for eliminating GBV and better supporting those who have experienced violence. In 2019 and 2020, the Government of Canada released data from two new national surveys on GBV in Canada and experiences of GBV by post-secondary students.
• Since 2018, WAGE has provided nearly $17 million to 54 organizations to address gaps in supports for Indigenous and underserved groups of survivors in Canada. In addition, WAGE has provided nearly $2 million to organizations for the development of resources and tools to support post-secondary institutions in addressing GBV on campuses across Canada.
• Since 2015 the Government of Canada has helped one million Canadians get access to safe and affordable housing, including the creation or enhancement of nearly 7,000 units that provide safe housing to survivors of domestic violence.
• Since 2014, online child exploitation increased by 1106 percent. To combat the online sexual exploitation of children, the RCMP has invested $3 million to enhance law enforcement services. In addition, Public Safety Canada has invested $2.8 million to raise awareness and protect children from child exploitation.
• Since March 2020, the Government of Canada has distributed $50 million in funding to over 1000 shelters, sexual assault centres and organizations providing supports to women and children experiencing violence.