Living a life free from violence is a fundamental human right. Unfortunately, gender‑based violence (GBV) continues to be a significant barrier to achieving gender equality in Canada. It is one of the most pervasive, deadly, and deeply rooted human rights violations of our time that affects people of all backgrounds, genders, and ages.
Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, and the Honourable Rochelle Squires, Manitoba's Minister of Families and Minister responsible for Gender Equity, announced a historic bilateral agreement. The federal government will be investing $22.3 million over four years to support the implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence in Manitoba. This historic and comprehensive plan reflects our commitment to preventing gender-based violence, while empowering communities through community-led solutions. The Plan is focused on three priority areas: increasing prevention efforts; reaching underserved and at-risk populations; and stabilizing the GBV sector.
Launched in November 2022 by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is a 10-year plan to address the root causes of gender-based violence, while also supporting victims, survivors and their families from coast to coast to coast. The National Action Plan is informed by over 1,000 recommendations from frontline organizations, survivors, experts and Indigenous partners.
This agreement will support the Government of Manitoba in their collaboration with partners and organizations across the province to enhance services to victims and survivors of gender-based violence, as well as their families. The support for prevention initiatives, programs and services will seek to address the root causes of GBV to stop violence before it occurs. The work will focus on preventing and addressing GBV in Manitoba, with a focus on at-risk and underserved populations. These actions will include the development and implementation of Indigenous-led approaches.
This announcement is among a series of bilateral agreements that will be signed between the federal government and provinces and territories.
Coordinated and collaborative actions from federal, provincial, and territorial governments are key in effectively preventing and addressing GBV. Provincial and territorial governments will continue working together in partnership with survivors, Indigenous partners, civil society, front-line service providers, municipalities, the private sector and researchers to implement the National Action Plan within their jurisdictions in a way that responds to the evolving needs of and emerging issues for survivors and victims of GBV.
