Results under the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence
Since 2017, federal government departments and agencies have been guided by It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (federal GBV Strategy) in their work to prevent gender-based violence (GBV), support victims, survivors and their families, and promote a responsive justice system.
Recognizing the importance of coordinating efforts to address GBV across the country, federal, provincial and territorial governmentsFootnote 1 launched the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence in 2022. The National Action Plan to End GBV consists of five pillars and a foundation: Support for victims, survivors, and their families; Prevention; Responsive justice system; Implementing Indigenous-led-approaches; and Social infrastructure and enabling environment.
Thirteen bilateral agreements to end gender-based violence are in place between the federal government and each province and territory for jurisdictions to implement the National Action Plan to End GBV. As a result, prevention and supports for victims and survivors are being strengthened to reduce GBV in collaboration with Indigenous partners, community organizations, researchers and service providers. Together, solutions are being advanced to change the underlying attitudes, behaviours, and conditions that enable violence.
Ending GBV in Canada is a long-term effort. It takes time and commitment, with collective action across the country. Progress is being made, demonstrating that coordinated efforts can lead to meaningful, lasting change.
Impact at a glance
Investments as part of the National Action Plan to End GBV reflect a sustained, whole-of-society approach to addressing gender-based violence, with a strong emphasis on prevention, equity and Indigenous-led solutions.
Investments and results under the National Action Plan to End GBV
Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) has provided $225M to provinces and territories through 13 bilateral agreements to prevent and end GBV for 2023–2024 ($75M) and 2024–2025 ($150M).
Altogether, the federal, provincial and territorial governments have invested more than $1.3B to prevent and end GBV for 2023–2024 (over $559M) and 2024–2025 (over $750M).
Key results
Expanded access to services for victims and survivors
In 2024–2025, more than 1 million people in Canada were able to access services such as counselling, housing, legal information, crisis supports, and community-based programs, reflecting both expanded capacity and increased awareness of available supports. Individuals accessing GBV supports and resources have grown significantly over the past few years.
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 towards regaining their personal autonomy.
The program increases clients’ confidence and sense of agency:
“My experience at the house has been a whirlwind but I am so appreciative for this experience. The house taught me it's okay to have your own values, expectations, boundaries and your own life. Coming here I lost who I was, and the house staff did nothing but help guide me into the person I am today. I hope you feel safe, happy and loved because that was my experience.”
Prevention at the core
While the latest statistics demonstrate that GBV is widespread and persistent, and impacts communities across Canada, preventing violence before it occurs is also critical. Increasing prevention efforts is a priority area under the National Action Plan to End GBV, overall prevention activities have consistently exceeded minimum funding requirements (46% versus 25% required).
More specifically, under Pillar 2 of the National Action Plan to End GBV, funding for prevention activities has expanded the reach of education, awareness, and early intervention initiatives aimed at stopping violence before it occurs. In 2024–2025, over 27,400 prevention resources were delivered through Pillar 2 of the National Action Plan to End GBV, which allowed more than 377,000 people in Canada to access prevention focused programs, supports and tools to help people understand not only what GBV is, but the conditions and systems that allow inequities to persist. These initiatives helped build GBV awareness, promote healthy relationships, and shift harmful attitudes and behaviours at the community level.
How investments support communities
Post-secondary institutions in the Prairies region are using funding from the National Action Plan to End GBV to support “Understanding and Responding to Sexual Violence,” a mandatory prevention training for all 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.
Canada’s justice system supporting victims and survivors
Canada is internationally respected as having a robust legal framework to address GBV. Yet, for many victims and survivors going through the justice system – including reporting their experience to police and testifying in court – is a traumatic experience. Only 6% of sexual assaults and 36% of physical assaults are reported to policeFootnote 2 . Systemic change in the Canadian judicial system is complicated by the fact that it operates across multiple levels of government and involves overlapping jurisdictions. In 2024–2025, the actions that supported the development and implementation of a responsive justice system led to the delivery of over 230 resources and 38,000 people accessing services under this pillar.
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. This high demand demonstrates the urgent need for victims and survivors' access to legal assistance and 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 shared:
“I now have a deeper appreciation for the complexities of navigating this system, especially in the context of intimate partner violence. This presentation reaffirmed to me the importance of getting the client connected with legal aid and the family justice navigation program.”
Ensuring that victims and survivors are supported by trained, trauma-informed professionals equipped to connect them with the right resources at the right time can lead to increased confidence in the justice system.
Strengthened Indigenous-led approaches
Significant investments are directed to Indigenous-led initiatives because Indigenous women and girls and disproportionately affected by GBV. These initiatives address prevention, victim and survivor supports, justice-related activities, and advancing distinctions-based, community-based, and community-driven approaches. Investments in Indigenous-led approaches have shaped local and regional responses to address GBV and enabled over 186,000 people accessing culturally appropriate resources in 2024–2025.
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 GBV and its root causes. As a result, more Indigenous survivors and families are accessing culturally safe, trauma-informed supports, and communities are leading their own prevention and healing efforts.
A recent gathering in the Prairies region brought together approximately 600 people to honour MMIWG2S+ and stand alongside families. The strong turnout and visible solidarity reflect growing community connection, shared responsibility, and a renewed commitment to protecting Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Organizers said:
“It was amazing seeing the community wrap their arms around the MMIWG2S+ families. People from all walks of life joined together and danced together. It was also nice to see the Indigenous community work closely with municipal public safety organizations. We had men, women, Indigenous, non- Indigenous, people that were new to Canada, newborn babies all the way to Elders in their 90s. Everyone was welcome, and everyone came.”
Social infrastructure and enabling environment
For women, in particular, intimate partner violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness. 85% of residential facilities for victims of abuse indicated that a lack of affordable long-term housing was one of the top challenges facing residents.Footnote 3
Working together to address socio-economic inequities positively impacts the economy by reducing health, justice and social system costs and improving economic participation for those experiencing GBV. Investments for shelters and transition homes, family resources centres, and community-driven programs, amongst others, are crucial to support victims and survivors who are rebuilding their lives. In 2024–2025, over 28,200 individuals were able to access these resources, which help them regain their well-being and safety.
How investments support communities
In many communities, funding through the National Action Plan to End GBV helped shelters remain fully operational, improve their physical environment and infrastructures, and upgrade essential items to ensure safety and meet rising demand. Victims and survivors experienced life-changing improvement in stability and connection.
One person from the Atlantic region who received a cell phone and data plan shared:
“This has enabled me to stay in contact with my outreach worker at the Transition House who helps keep me safe, to stay in touch with all my doctor appointments. Again, this program may save more lives than it truly intended to and that's amazing. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of this program and helping me reconnect and keeping me safe!”
Strong foundation and rapid implementation
The flexible bilateral funding agreements in place in each jurisdiction create the governance, accountability, and delivery structures needed to move quickly from planning to implementation. Investments increased rapidly, resulting in hundreds of concrete actions being launched across Canada, which helped over 29,400 people in 2024–2025. Coordinated leadership ensures a consistent, multisectoral approach that draws on diverse expertise and perspectives.
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 GBV risk mitigation training to frontline staff that equipped them with evidence-informed tools to better identify warning signs, intervene earlier, and support survivors with confidence and consistency. Some staff members from the Northern region now describe feeling more prepared, more informed, and more confident in supporting survivors—while survivors experience more consistent, culturally safe, and timely care:
“Our staff team had access to robust training opportunities to build new skills and capacities to support GBV survivors with complex needs. None of these important projects would have been possible without additional financial support from the National Action Plan to End GBV.”
These system level improvements are already contributing to stronger coordination across services, greater alignment with the national goals and contributing to all pillars under the National Action Plan to End GBV.
Ongoing efforts
Investments through the National Action Plan to End GBV have already led to real progress, such as better access to services, more prevention initiatives, stronger Indigenous-led programs, and greater awareness and understanding. These evidence-based actions help build a future where fewer people experience GBV. Although national rates may take time to reflect these changes, ongoing efforts are paving the way for a safer and more equitable future for everyone.
More information about federal, provincial and territorial actions to end gender-based violence are available on the following web pages: