Gender-based Violence Program
Gender-based violence (GBV) costs women and 2SLGBTQI+ people their lives. It is a preventable and significant barrier to gender equality. The Gender-based Violence Program provides supports and tools to better meet the diverse needs of populations across Canada who have experienced various forms of GBV. Initiatives help communities, at-risk or underserved populations, and people who are facing barriers accessing the support they need.
Objective of the Gender-based Violence Program
The Gender-based Violence Program aims to:
- Address gaps in supports for specific populations who have experienced GBV
- End violence against women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people
- Prevent GBV for at-risk populations
Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) supports organizations working in the GBV sector to help build their capacity to effectively prevent and address GBV, and implement successful projects within the communities they serve.
The GBV Program funds projects that foster safety, healing, and wellbeing for victims and survivors, while also supporting efforts to prevent violence before it occurs. Through investments in organizations and service providers across Canada, the Program helps develop and implement promising practices and other initiatives that improve supports and strengthen prevention efforts. It also focuses on the root causes of GBV and engages men and boys as part of the solution to prevent and address GBV.
Eligible organizations
The GBV Program funds local, regional, and national initiatives through grants and contributions. Eligible organizations and activities are determined by the general eligibility requirements for the Gender-based Violence Program and associated funding opportunities.
Funding for projects is time-limited, and does not provide support for ongoing activities, such as an organization's operations and administration. As available funds are limited, not all qualified applicants may receive funding.
Results
The GBV Program makes a real difference in the lives of Canadians by strengthening the GBV sector, including shelters, transition housing, and those that provide counselling services. GBV Program investments address gaps in supports, prevention work and addressing human trafficking through actions like developing and testing of promising practices; promoting the uptake of models that work; and research and data collection. Specific at-risk and underserved populations supported by the program include Indigenous women and their communities, women living with a disability, immigrant and refugee women, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and Black and racialized women.
Since the Department for Women and Gender Equality was created in 2018, the GBV Program has delivered the following achievements:
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The GBV Program has supported 190 projects across Canada. Those projects contributed to preventing and addressing various forms of GBV, such as intimate partner violence, human trafficking, technology-facilitated GBV, etc.
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More than 2,200 tools and resources were developed, including guides, articles and reports. These resources enabled organizations working in the GBV sector to provide victims and survivors of GBV, and at-risk populations, with hands-on supports.
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Projects reached more than 90,000 women, girls, and gender-diverse people, which helped empower victims and survivors of GBV to start their healing journey and regain control of their lives.
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More than 1,400 partnerships within and between sectors were established or strengthened, to collaborate, share knowledge and resources, and coordinate actions that contribute to safer communities.
Gender Based Violence Program’s Impact: Perspectives from Funded Organizations
Our project Contrer la violence interpersonnelle dans le sport jeunesse [Countering Interpersonal Violence in Youth Sport], has produced concrete and lasting results. Through the Coaching Boys Into Men bystander intervention program, offered in a bilingual format in British Columbia and Alberta, we have trained more than 80 coaches and directly engaged with more than 840 young athletes regarding themes of respect, consent, and healthy relationships. Post-program surveys reveal a 24-point increase in discussions about respect for women and girls, and a 35-point increase in coach-led conversations about sexual violence. This project has allowed us to build safer sports environments for racialized and Francophone youth—communities often underserved by GBV prevention initiatives.
— Black Buildup
Our project Heads or Tails (project for the prevention of sexual exploitation and human trafficking among young people aged 12 to 17), through its training modules, workshops and turnkey tools, has increased the knowledge and strengthened the skills of at-risk youth and the professionals who work with them in addressing this challenge. In total, the project reached community, institutional and school audiences in 15 regions of Quebec!
— Marie-Vincent Centre of Expertise
Through our project EmpowerMen – Engaging men and boys to prevent sexual exploitation and sex trafficking we have increased our engagement with men and boys to prevent sexual exploitation and trafficking in community trainings, law-enforcement, the corporate sector (especially mining and extraction industry), as well as social services and education. We use research focused on online exploitation and corporate responsibility to strengthen responses, encourage policy development, and innovative actions to reduce harm. We are grateful for the expanded cross-sector partnerships with survivors, policy specialists, police and criminal justice leaders, academics, tech experts, educators, health, settlement and social services providers across Canada. This will advance the move towards more men taking a greater role in creating safety and wellbeing for everyone.
— Ma Mawi Chi Itata Centre Inc.
Through our WAGE project, Community Wisdom – Systemic Change, we have made a meaningful impact by addressing a critical gap in spaces dedicated to the healing and well-being of men and boys. Our work revealed a significant lack of supportive environments where men and boys can safely explore emotions, process experiences, and engage in personal growth. In response, we created intentional, healing-centered spaces that have led to a noticeable increase in participation among men and boys. This growing engagement reflects a clear need and willingness for connection, accountability, and transformation. By centering healing, we are not only supporting individual well-being but also contributing to the development of safer, more compassionate communities for everyone.
— Victoria International Development Education Association (VIDEA)
The Economic Abuse Support & Empowerment (EASE) project deepened collaboration between credit and financial specialists, anti‑violence organizations, and survivors to address financial abuse within intimate partner violence. Survivors engaged with the project reported increased knowledge of financial management and a shift in how they understood and related to money, supporting longer‑term empowerment. Cross‑sector partners who participated expressed a deeper understanding of IPV and financial abuse and increased their capacity to design responsive, trauma‑informed products and service—advancing meaningful system‑level change to better support survivors of IPV.
— Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT)
Human impact stories
Discover stories, insights, and ideas that help prevent and address GBV here in Canada.
Services and information
How you can empower youth to help prevent gender-based violence in sports
Equip those around you with the confidence to know when and how to safely intervene.
How to respond when a young athlete says they’ve experienced gender-based violence online
Practical tips for support, guidance, and promoting online safety.
3 things every coach/volunteer should know about gender-based violence
And how to talk to young athletes about it!
Creating safe online spaces
Find out how Next Gen Men has been creating safe online spaces for boys and masculine-exploring youth in the digital age.
Redefining masculinity
Mothers Matter Centre is working to help newcomer men build community around positive masculinities.
Creating an inclusive STEM future
Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology’s 27-month long project plans to create safer and more inclusive STEM workplaces for women and gender-diverse people.
A circle of healing
Ikayuqtiit’s Red Amautiit Project provides a circle of healing to families with missing and murdered Inuit women and girls.
Safe at home
Rowan House Society decided to embrace a challenge.
Learn more about Gender-based Violence Program funding
- Funding opportunities: Gender-based violence
- Fund to Address Gender-based Violence through Promising Practices and Community-based Research
- Consult a list of projects funded through WAGE programs
- Budget 2025 – Funding for the Department for Women and Gender Equality
- Read WAGE’s funding programs service standards for more information