Canada ratifies Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women
News release
June 23, 2026 – Panama City, Panama - Global Affairs Canada
Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs announced with the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), Canada’s ratification of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women (the Belém do Pará Convention).
The convention, originally adopted by the OAS member states in 1994, is an historic and groundbreaking treaty. It has played a key role in advancing women’s rights by providing a comprehensive framework for states parties to the convention to prevent, address, and eradicate violence against women—one of the most pervasive and deeply rooted human rights violations and abuses of our time.
For more than three decades, the convention has guided legislative, policy and institutional reforms across the hemisphere. It reinforces the recognition that violence against women is a violation of human rights and a barrier to the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in society. The OAS Inter-American Commission of Women supports states parties in meeting their obligations under the convention.
This ratification is a result of close consultations between the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments, and it will enhance collaboration between governments, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and international partners to address root causes of violence against women and gender-diverse persons and methods to improve prevention and response including through restorative justice.
This milestone will bring us closer to building a safer and more equitable Canada—and world—for everyone, including women, girls and gender-diverse persons.
Quick facts
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The obligations in the Belém do Pará Convention are consistent with obligations that Canada is already subject to under the international human rights treaties to which it is a Party.
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Since 2017, Canada has invested over $820 million and $44 million per year ongoing to support work under the federal Gender-based Violence (GBV) Strategy. Building on the foundation set by the federal GBV Strategy, the 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence was launched in 2022 by the federal, provincial, and territorial ministers responsible for the status of women. The Government of Canada made an investment of $539.3 million over five years, through bilateral agreements to end GBV, to enable provinces and territories to supplement and enhance services and supports within their jurisdictions to prevent GBV and support survivors.
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Budget 2025 has committed an additional $223.4 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, and $44.7 million ongoing to strengthen federal action on gender-based violence.
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As a Party to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Canada has committed to addressing gender-based violence domestically and internationally.
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