2024-2025 Annual Progress Report on the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence

Introduction

Gender-based violence (GBV), in all its forms, continues to be prevalent across Canada. It worsens in times of uncertainty, such as during pandemics, environmental crisis, and economic downturns^{Footnote i} .

The federal government, alongside provincial and territorial partners, is working toward a Canada free of gender-based violence—where survivors, victims, and their families can rely on timely, accessible, and effective protection and supports, no matter where they live. The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (National Action Plan, or NAP to End GBV) provides the framework for this work, supporting coordinated action across jurisdictions and helping drive shared progress toward common goals.

In 2024-2025, the National Action Plan began to deliver results on a greater scale. Building on the foundation established in the Plan’s first year, the federal government, in partnership with provinces and territories, continued to advance efforts to address GBV, helping expand support services, strengthen prevention, and improve response across the country. Together, governments supported more than 200 actions under the National Action Plan, invested more than $753 million, and helped more than one million individuals across the country access programs, supports and resources^{Footnote ii} , such as toolkits, guides, plans, and communications tools. These results reflect meaningful progress in a long-term effort to build a safer Canada.

The impact of collective action is measured through the Expected Results Framework, which tracks annual outputs as well as short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes. This framework is designed to assess whether efforts are improving health, social, economic, and justice outcomes for those affected by gender-based violence, while helping identify gaps, guiding future investment, and maintaining momentum.

Changes in GBV rates are measured through the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS), which is conducted every five years. It includes questions about personal experiences at home, in the workplace, in public spaces, and online. The survey also serves as the primary data source for four indicators that track medium- and long-term outcomes under the Expected Results Framework. Reductions in GBV rates may not immediately show in data, even when strong programs and investments are in place. As systems become more supportive and survivor-centred, more victims and survivors may feel safer in reporting incidents, and this may temporarily increase GBV rates. Many actions under the National Action Plan are designed to shift deep-rooted social norms, behaviours, and systems; therefore, measurable changes will take time.

Systemic change does not happen overnight and this work is ongoing. But this second year of implementation shows that sustained investment, coordinated action, and strong partnerships are helping turn national commitment into tangible progress for communities across Canada.

Background

In November 2022, the Forum of Federal-Provincial and-Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of WomenFootnote iii  launched the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, a 10-year strategic framework for action to support victims, survivors, and their families, no matter where they live. The National Action Plan is underpinned by five pillars and a foundation. It was informed by over 1000 recommendations from Indigenous partners and stakeholders that include victims, survivors, front-line organizations, and experts, and builds on existing federal, provincial, and territorial approaches and strategies to prevent and address gender-based violence.

Canada is investing $539.3 million over 5 years (from 2022 to 2027), including $525 million to support provinces and territories in their implementation of the National Action Plan through bilateral agreements.

These agreements are supported by implementation plans that outline how provinces and territories will use federal funding to increase their efforts in addressing gender-based violence while meeting regional needs and priorities and delivering services directly or through local partners.

2024–2025 Results overview

The first year of the National Action Plan focused on laying the groundwork for long-term success, including finalizing bilateral agreements and implementation plans. Bilateral agreements were finalized at different times; therefore, provinces and territories only had part of the year to begin their activities. This was anticipated, and allocations were designed to increase in the second year as programs and services expand and partnerships are fully established, so that governments and funding recipients can work collaboratively toward shared goals.

The 2024-2025 period marked the full-scale rollout of actions^{Footnote iv}  based on the groundwork laid in 2023-2024, by funding new actions, expanding existing initiatives, refining strategies, and ensuring broader coordination. Federal investments to provinces and territories doubled from $75 million in 2023-2024, to $150 million in 2024-2025. Federal, provincial, and territorial investments also increased from $559 million in 2023-2024 to $753 million in 2024-2025^{Footnote v} .

Table 1: Federal allocation for 2024-2025 

Protecting the safety, dignity, and well-being of victims and survivors is the primary goal of the National Action Plan. At the same time, these investments make strong economic sense by reducing the long-term social and economic costs associated with gender-based violence. By addressing root causes, strengthening prevention, and improving systems of support, this work helps create safer communities, reduces demands on health, social, and justice services, and supports greater economic participation. The plan’s multi-pillar approach ensures that these investments continue to generate benefits for individuals, communities, and the economy over time, while always placing the needs and experiences of those most affected by gender-based violence at the forefront. 

Table 2 shows how funding is invested across the five pillars and foundation of the National Action Plan. This information highlights where progress is being made and how jurisdictions are supporting national priorities while placing victims and survivors at the centre of their efforts. Bilateral agreements are flexible and allow funds to be carried over to the next fiscal year to help manage unexpected challenges. Overall spending in 2024-2025 remained similar to 2023-2024, with modest increases in Pillars 4 and 5.

More than 200 actions were supported in 2024-2025, including existing or enhanced actions, new actions, or actions carried forward from 2023-2024.

The breakdown of actions across priority areas was as follows:

• 46% of actions: Increasing prevention efforts^{Footnote vi} 
• 34% of actions: Reaching underserved or most at-risk populations^{Footnote vii} 
• 18.5% of actions: Stabilizing the gender-based violence sector
• 1.5% of actions: Other gender-based violence priority

Across all pillars and the foundation, more than $38 million of the federal contribution was invested in increasing prevention efforts in 2024-2025, which represents 46% of the federal allocation.

The similar distribution of funding among priority areas in the first two years shows that actions are often funded and carried out over several years.

There was a marked increase in investments^{Footnote viii}  flowing directly to ultimate recipients^{Footnote ix}   across all pillars and the foundation, thereby expanding the reach and support directed to Indigenous partners, service providers, community organizations, researchers, post-secondary institutions, and other community-based organizations.

Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) has made the commitment to publicly share results under the National Action Plan, not only to demonstrate where public funds are being spent, but also as a mechanism to monitor progress. Data from provincial and territorial annual reports is used year over year to establish baselines and targets, to report against the Expected Results (ER) Framework and to demonstrate impact. 

Populations supported under the National Action Plan

Gender-based violence disproportionately affects women and girls. Populations that are at-risk or underserved when they experience gender-based violence include Indigenous women and girls, Black and racialized women, immigrant and refugee women, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+)^{Footnote xvi}  people, women with disabilities, and women living in Northern, rural, and remote communities. Women in linguistic minority situations may face challenges in terms of being able to access appropriate services in the official language of their choice.^{Footnote xvii} 

The National Action Plan highlights the need to collect and report on disaggregated data, wherever possible, and to invest in population-specific research to address persistent gaps and challenges in data. Actions may serve a broader segment of the population, such as all women and girls, to reach as many people as possible. However, when data is disaggregated, a clearer picture emerges of how specific populations are supported and where additional investments could be made.

Pillar 1 – Support for victims, survivors, and their families

Many provinces and territories focused on increasing funding and enhancing programs to expand supports for victims and survivors, thereby providing life-saving support and safe spaces. During 2024-2025, investments increased to more than $362.8 million to support victims, survivors, and their families. This targeted increase has helped more than 381,000 individuals access these resources—an increase of approximately 13% compared to 2023-2024. 

Delivery of actions

How investments support communities

The Safer Spaces program in the Atlantic region provides emergency transitional housing for young adult survivors of sexual exploitation or human trafficking who are trying to exit the sex trade. Participants staying in the Safer Spaces home are offered wrap-around supports to build life stability and take steps toward regaining their personal autonomy.

The program increases clients’ confidence and sense of agency:

Pillar 2 – Prevention

Prevention is the foundation of lasting change. Education, awareness, and community engagement are powerful tools to help people understand not only what gender-based violence is, but the conditions and systems that allow inequities to persist. Gender-based violence can no longer be dismissed as a private issue. It is a pervasive societal problem that requires prevention efforts across all contexts, from homes and workplaces, to schools, sports, and digital spaces.

Funding in prevention efforts increased by 44%, from $36 million in 2023-2024 to $51.7 million in 2024-2025. Investing in prevention saves lives. It also reduces the need for downstream services such as emergency medical care, policing, court processes, and long‑term social assistance.

Delivery of actions

How investments support communities

Approximately 26 post-secondary institutions in one area of the Prairies region are using funding from the National Action Plan to support better understanding and responses to sexual violence. At least one university has included this as mandatory prevention training for new students, reaching about 3,000 students annually.

The 35-minute training includes interactive checkpoints and covers topics such as consent, characteristics of sexual violence, power imbalances and intersectionality, statistics, roots of rape culture, common myths, trauma and its effects on the brain, responding to disclosures, being an active bystander, and prevention strategies.

By equipping students with knowledge and practical skills, this training helps create safer and more supportive campus communities.

Pillar 3 – Responsive justice system

Canada is internationally respected as having a robust legal framework to address gender-based violence, yet for many victims and survivors, involvement in the justice system, including reporting their victimization to the police and testifying in court, is a traumatic experience. Systemic change in the Canadian judicial system is complicated because it is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, with each having specific or overlapping responsibilities.

Many different gender-based violence services and programs were implemented to support systemic change in the justice system, including enhanced funding to community organizations, expanding case reviews, and training for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, and victim service providers. These supports are critical for gender-based violence victims, survivors and their families.

More than $13.4 million was invested in actions that support the development and implementation of a responsive justice system and approximately 38,000 individuals accessed services under this pillar. This represents a significant increase from 2023-2024. 

Delivery of actions

How investments support communities

In many jurisdictions, funding for the justice system has strengthened access to justice by ensuring victims, survivors, and their families can navigate complex legal processes. For example, a funded organization in the Atlantic Region launched a regional free legal advice clinic, which is now fully operational and fully booked, having supported almost 500 people, including more than 100 immigrant and refugee women. This high demand demonstrated the urgent need for victims and survivors to have access to legal assistance, as well as the importance of improving system responsiveness across Canada.

The clinic does more than just increase access to justice-related services; it also deepens the understanding of professionals who support victims and survivors. One service provider from the Atlantic region said:

Pillar 4 – Implementing Indigenous-led approaches

Ending gender-based violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people is rooted in acknowledging and respecting the inherent rights and cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and organizations. Governments, industries, institutions, and society must work to create transformative systemic and systems-level change to address the root causes of gender-based violence. To do this, Indigenous partners, Indigenous women, 2SLGBTQI+ leaders, and gender-based violence sector stakeholders have identified the need to support Indigenous-led initiatives and community-based holistic approaches, services, and solutions that are culturally appropriate, honour Indigenous communities, and create safe spaces. 

More than $190.7 million in federal, provincial, and territorial funds were invested in Indigenous-led approaches in 2024-2025. This represents an increase of approximately 34% from last year’s total investment. 

Delivery of Actions

How investments support communities

Funding recipients report stronger, healthier communities where Indigenous families feel safer, more connected, and better supported. These efforts are rebuilding trust, strengthening relationships, and advancing healing from the ongoing impacts of colonial harm.

Through culturally grounded workshops and gatherings, communities have deepened their understanding of gender-based violence and its root causes. As a result, more Indigenous victims, survivors, and their families are accessing culturally safe, trauma-informed supports, and communities are leading their own prevention and healing efforts.

A Territory brought together Elders, adults, and youth from two territories for an Inuit language terminology workshop to translate language related to gender-based violence and missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ people. The discussions aimed to foster a deeper understanding of these concepts and their impact on marginalized communities, while fostering a safe, inclusive, and accepting space for participants to share and ask questions, in a culturally appropriate way.

In total, 75 words were translated into five different dialects. This workshop was deeply personal to many participants who experienced many of the things being discussed but may not have had the words in their own language to talk about it. It also highlighted the importance of using accurate and culturally appropriate terminology when addressing issues like gender-based violence, discrimination, and homelessness, to better reflect the experiences and needs of Inuvialuit and Inuit communities.

Pillar 5 – Social infrastructure and enabling environment

Collective action to address socio-economic inequities will positively impact the economy by reducing health, justice, and social system costs and improving economic participation for those experiencing gender-based violence.

More than $127 million was invested in social infrastructure and enabling environments—more than 3 times the amount invested in the previous year. 

Delivery of Actions

How investments support communities

In many communities, funding through the National Action Plan helped shelters remain fully operational, improve their physical environment and infrastructure, and upgrade essential items to ensure safety and meet rising demand. Victims and survivors experienced life-changing improvement in stability and connection.

One initiative in the North has put in place a mobile outreach program to provide supports and enhance safety in a downtown core.

A van provides street‑level support to vulnerable individuals, many of whom are women and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Thanks to this van, people can be reached wherever they are, thereby reducing barriers to accessing support and helping create safer spaces. The program prioritizes women’s safety and helps connect individuals to services. Cultural and emotional safety are central to all services, which are delivered by an entirely First Nations and Indigenous staff that incorporates cultural practices such as traditional food and medicine.

In a span of five months, this single community had more than 5,000 interactions and distributed over 3,000 hygiene products, 3,000 items of outerwear, nearly 15,000 food products/snacks, 9,500 beverages, and 950 harm-reduction products.

Foundation

The National Action Plan is built on a strong foundation of collaboration among governments, Indigenous partners, service providers, researchers, the private sector, and victims, survivors, and their families. Its success depends on three key components: leadership and engagement, data and research, and reporting and monitoring. Coordinated leadership across federal, provincial, and territorial governments ensures a consistent, multisectoral approach that draws on diverse expertise and perspectives. Ongoing data collection and research provide the evidence needed to identify gaps, shape policies, and strengthen programs, while knowledge mobilization ensures that promising practices and research are shared widely. Transparent reporting and monitoring track progress and hold systems accountable. In 2024-2025, more than $7.6 million was invested under the Foundation. 

Delivery of Actions

How investments support communities

In some jurisdictions, funding supported the review of existing practices, leading to key findings and forward-looking recommendations that are already changing frontline service delivery. Organizations were able to provide gender-based violence risk mitigation training to frontline staff members that equipped them with evidence-informed tools to better identify warning signs, to intervene earlier, and to support victims and survivors with confidence and consistency. Some staff members from the North now describe feeling more prepared, more informed, and more confident in supporting victims and survivors—while survivors experience more consistent, culturally safe, and timely care: 

These system-level improvements are already helping to strengthen coordination across services, better align with national goals, and support all the pillars of the National Action Plan.

Federal contribution

It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender‑Based Violence is the federal government’s contribution to the National Action Plan. Led by WAGE, the Strategy brings together federal departments and agencies to advance prevention, strengthen supports for victims and survivors, and promote a more responsive justice system. In 2024–2025, federal partners advanced more than 60 new or ongoing initiatives spanning public awareness and prevention, survivor‑centred services, justice system improvements, research and data collection, and targeted actions for populations facing heightened risks of violence—including Indigenous women, children and youth, newcomers, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and members of the Defence community. Together, these efforts demonstrate continued federal leadership in addressing root causes of gender-based violence, improving access to culturally grounded, trauma‑informed supports, and strengthening the evidence base needed to drive long‑term, systemic change.

The complete federal Gender-based Violence Strategy report for 2024-2025 will be published separately.

Conclusion

As of March 31, 2026, provinces and territories have completed the third year of implementation and are moving into the final year of their bilateral agreements. As implementation of the National Action Plan continues, attention must be paid to the long-term strategy and how to maintain momentum. A solid foundation has been created that can be built upon to strengthen the gender-based violence sector, drive continuous improvements, and address ongoing challenges.

Key priorities include strengthening data collection (including disaggregated data), improving analysis to better understand the progress made and how to respond to challenges in the sector, enhancing collaboration among federal, provincial, and territorial partners to optimize knowledge sharing and resources, and expanding access to victim- and survivor-centred services.

Long-term goals will focus on building resilient, adaptable systems, ensuring equitable support for diverse communities, and embedding prevention strategies across sectors. Achieving these systemic changes and lasting cultural shift will require sustained commitment and active engagement from all levels of Canadian society. These next steps are critical for fostering resilient communities and achieving a comprehensive, sustainable approach that moves Canada closer to ending gender-based violence. Lasting systemic change will not be achieved overnight or through short-term investments. Gender-based violence remains a serious issue across Canada, and evidence shows it can increase and become more severe during times of crisis. Global political instability, climate crises, and economic shocks are stressors that indirectly increase gender-based violence risks in Canada.

Gender-based violence costs Canada billions of dollars every year through healthcare needs, justice system involvement, lost productivity, and long-term impacts on victims and survivors’ safety, health, and economic stability. Addressing and preventing gender-based violence is not only a social and economic priority, but also essential for the well-being of victims and survivors. By investing in prevention and strong, culturally grounded, trauma-informed supports, Canada helps victims and survivors heal and regain financial independence. These investments also reduce overall costs to public systems, strengthen workforce participation, and foster gender equality—an essential driver of economic growth and innovation. Prevention and support programs create jobs in social services and health sectors, reduce cycles of poverty and violence, and build healthier, safer communities. Together, these efforts support victim and survivor well-being while contributing to a more resilient and inclusive Canada.