United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals: 2021-2022 Departmental Results Report, Women and Gender Equality Canada

SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

The development and implementation of a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

Lead and coordinate the implementation of the federal GBV Strategy

Within the UN’s Global Indicator Framework, the federal GBV Strategy and National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
• Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents for their review conferences

Over the course of the 2021-22 fiscal year, WAGE, in partnership with provinces and territories, continued to advance towards a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV NAP). On January 22, 2021, at their 38th annual ministerial meeting, the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of Women endorsed the Joint Declaration for a Canada free of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), an important step in developing the GBV NAP. Additionally, in December 2021, at the 39th annual meeting, FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women reaffirmed their commitment and collaboration to advance a GBV NAP.

The Federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence is also monitoring the extent to which federal efforts have reduced rates of GBV and improved health, economic and social outcomes.  In 2021-22, the Strategy reported that 3.6% of women self-reported being sexual assaulted in the past 12 months (compared to 2.1% of men); 12.1% of women aged 15 and older also self-reported experiencing intimate partner violence in the past 12 months (compared to 11.4% of men); 45.8% of women sexual assault survivors reported social isolation as a result of victimization (compared to 28.3% of men), and 85% of women intimate partner violence survivors reported good, very good, or excellent health (compared to 87.1% of men).

In 2021-22, under the Federal GBV Strategy WAGE continued to support 59 projects and spent a total of $7.3 million through its GBV program. Funding for this Program is helping service providers, organizations, governments, and others working to prevent GBV to collaborate more, and to support victims, survivors and their families.  To date, more than 500 new partnerships have been created, facilitating the development of training on cultural safety and trauma informed service delivery, transformation care for 2SLGBTQI+ victims/survivors of GBV, and piloting new supports the help survivors of GBV navigate the legal system.

Research funded in 2021-22 led to the release of 13 research reports on priority research areas. These reports also allowed for the further disaggregation of data from the 2018 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces.  Planning is also underway for related research initiatives such as the development of a national Femicide Information System in collaboration with Statistics Canada, and a Call for Proposals for community-based research has been launched with the aim to announce recipients in summer 2023.

The GBV Knowledge Mobilization Team , through the GBV Secretariat, organized 11 knowledge mobilization events in 2021-22, which reached over 2,071 individuals from a wide range of partners and stakeholders. Additionally, six new or updated web products were posted online, which generated 75,883 visits representing a 30% increase compared to 2020-21.

WAGE also supported the extensive efforts already made across the country to prevent and address GBV at Post-Secondary Institutions (PSIs) under the federal GBV strategy. To advance these efforts, in 2021-22, the Department provided $2 million over two years (2021 to 2023) to Possibility Seeds Consulting. This commitment builds on the promising practices, tools, protocols, and programs articulated in the WAGE-funded Courage to Act report. This project will create evidence-based tools; engage the Courage to Act network through skill-sharing meetings; expand its knowledge centre; and pilot, evaluate, and refine tools, policies, and procedures.

Budget 2021 committed $601.3M over five years under the federal Gender-based Violence (GBV) strategy to advance towards the GBV National Action Plan (NAP). Of this, $415 million was dedicated for WAGE, including $104 million in fiscal 2021-22. Total funding includes:

• $14 million over five years, starting in 2021-22 to establish a dedicated secretariat to coordinate the ongoing work towards the development and implementation of the GBV NAP. The Secretariat was fully established in 2021-22.
• $55 million over five years to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+people. The Call for Proposals for this funding was launched on January 27, 2022 and closed March 10, 2022.
• $105 million over five years, for WAGE to enhance its GBV Program. Thus far, 72 projects have been approved for a total investment of $27M million, which is in addition to the 59 projects supported by the GBV program mentioned above. 
• $30 million over five years, so that crisis hotlines can serve the urgent needs of more Canadians experiencing GBV and offer more robust services.  As PTs are best placed to identify which organizations operating crisis lines need funding and where federal funding can meaningfully address gaps, bilateral contribution agreements with the PT governments were negotiated to distribute funding to existing crisis hotlines within their jurisdictions.
• $200 million in emergency COVID-19 funding for organizations supporting those experiencing GBV.  This funding is ensuring the continuity of services and is enhancing the capacity of over 1,400 organizations that provide critical and often life-saving services and supports for women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+, and gender non-binary people experiencing violence. Funding has supported organizations in every province and territory, including those serving Northern, rural and remote communities. As of March 31, 2022, more than 1.3 million individuals had a place to turn to because of this funding.
• $11million over five years for GBV research and knowledge mobilization.  In 2021-22, WAGE and Statistics Canada collaborated on the launch of work to implement a national Femicide Information System. Additionally, WAGE and Statistics Canada began work on a series of consultations for the development of the second cycle of the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces and plans for targeted oversampling to support better data disaggregation. A full report on the outcomes of those consultations and implications for implementing the survey will be completed by the end of 2022-23.

Develop and deliver programming to support projects that address systemic barriers to gender equality and to support the capacity and sustainability of women’s and equality-seeking organizations.

Within the UN’s Global Indicator Framework, this programming is expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
• Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
• Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws.
• Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
• Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

Within the Canadian Indicator Framework, this programming is expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Ambition: Canadians are well represented at all levels of decision making
  • Ambition: Canadians share responsibilities within households and families.
• Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • Ambition: Canadians have access to quality jobs
• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced
• Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Ambition: Canadians are safe and secure, in person and online, Ambition: Canadians have equal access to justice,
  • Ambition: Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

Projects funded by the Women’s Program in 2021-22 worked to encourage women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles through toolkits, guides, and workshops that support skills and knowledge to create more equitable conditions for women in various spheres.

Projects funded to encourage women’s leadership and democratic participation that were completed in 2021-22 created and disseminated more than 50 different resources to increase awareness of what services and supports were available and how to access them. As a result of these projects, 179,292 women gained access to services and supports that resulted in better opportunities in education, employment, health, and social services.

Projects funded to increase women’s economic security and prosperity in this area that were completed in 2021-22 roles developed and disseminated 258 resources, including toolkits, guides and various models. As a result, over 283,856 people gained skills and knowledge to create more equitable conditions for women in various spheres.

Additionally, 87% of funded projects in 2021-22 that were completed, reported that they developed and implemented concrete solutions to the systemic barriers faced by women. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified systemic and longstanding inequalities, with women and girls disproportionately impacted by the crisis.  On February 11, 2021, the Department launched the $100M Feminist Response and Recovery Fund call for proposals. As announced on July 29, 2021, the Fund is supporting 237 systemic change projects across the Women’s Program’s three priority areas (ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security and prosperity of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles). This investment ensures that Canada’s response and recovery is inclusive of diverse women by prioritizing projects tackling barriers faced by marginalized or underrepresented women, including Indigenous women, Black women, women of colour, women who are members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and women living with disabilities or in rural or remote communities.

Budget 2021 announced $15 million over three years, for a new 2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund to support community-informed initiatives that address key issues facing 2SLGBTQI+ communities. In February 2022, the first two projects totaling $800,000 were announced, including Rainbow Faith and Freedom, an Ontario-based project that aims to work toward ending religious-based discrimination in the faith sector; and Imprint Youth Association, which is working to build and strengthen capacity in accessing gender-affirming health care in New Brunswick. An additional 10 projects have also been supported through the Call for Proposals launched in May 2022.

Through the $20 million 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund announced in Budget 2019, the capacity of 76 2SLGBTQI+ organizations was enhanced during 2021-22.  Initiatives supported by the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund have already begun to strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ organizations through the establishment of formal national networks, legally constituting organizations, strengthening governance, and supporting the development of strategic plans.

On February 2, 2022, an additional $7.5 million was announced to extend the 2SLGBTQI+ Capacity Fund for an additional year for the existing recipients to further support the capacity of the 2SLGBTQI+ movement.

Lead a coordinated whole-of-government approach to promote a greater understanding of the intersection of sex and gender with other factors, which will result in more responsive federal policies and programs that systematically consider the needs of different groups of people.

Through the strengthened application of Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) across the federal government, this programming is expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on all targets within the UN Global Indicator Framework under SDG5:

• Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
• Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation
• Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate
• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
• Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences
• Target 5. a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
• Target 5. b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women
• Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels

Within the Canadian Indicator Framework, it is therefore likely to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Ambition: Canadians are well represented at all levels of decision making
  • Ambition: Canadians share responsibilities within households and families.
• Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • Ambition: Canadians have access to quality jobs
• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced
• Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Ambition: Canadians have access to quality housing
• Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Ambition: Canadians are safe and secure, in person and online, Ambition: Canadians have equal access to justice,
  • Ambition: Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

Note: In addition, the application of GBA Plus helps ensure that all policies, programs, and legislation are more responsive to the needs of different groups of women, men and gender-diverse individuals. As such, strengthening GBA Plus application across the federal government may also support Canada’s efforts to advance other sustainable development goals.

Over the 2021-22 fiscal year, WAGE worked with federal partners to promote a greater understanding of GBA Plus as an intersectional analysis to inform the development and implementation of responsive and inclusive federal initiatives.  For example, WAGE worked with federal partners to develop new guidance on how to do GBA Plus and how to apply it to the lifecycle of a policy or program.  In addition, WAGE and partners developed a toolkit for better understanding intersecting factors to consider when doing GBA Plus. These tools were promoted to all federal departments and agencies in June 2021.  To support the implementation of these tools, WAGE and the Canada School of Public Service delivered a new course on GBA Plus.  In the 2021-22 fiscal year, the CSPS delivered 14 training sessions to nearly 200 federal public servants.

In addition to strengthening the application of GBA Plus, WAGE provided leadership and technical advice to key partners responsible for the application of GBA Plus in decision-making.  In 2021-22 this work included:

• Supporting the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) in respect of the development of a new Open Government National Action Plan;
• Supporting Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in applying GBA Plus considerations to negotiations and implementation of Free Trade Agreements;
• Integrating considerations of gender, income, age and other identity factors as part of WAGE responsibilities under the Impact Assessment Act;
• Collaborating with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) on efforts to increase participation of under-represented groups in federal government procurement; and
• Providing ongoing guidance and support to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as part of efforts to design and implement an Integrated Climate Lens.

Promote community action through commemoration initiatives such as International Women’s Day, Gender Equality Week, Women’s History Month, International Day of the Girl, Persons Day, and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence

These commemorative initiatives are expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on all targets within the UN Global Indicator Framework related to SDG5.

• Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
• Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation
• Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate
• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
• Target 5. b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women
• Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels

Within the Canadian Indicator Framework, these commemorative initiatives are expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Ambition: Canadians are well represented at all levels of decision making
  • Ambition: Canadians share responsibilities within households and families.
• Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • Ambition: Canadians have access to quality jobs
• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced
• Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Ambition: Canadians have access to quality housing
• Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Ambition: Canadians are safe and secure, in person and online, Ambition: Canadians have equal access to justice,
  • Ambition: Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

Throughout 2021-22, WAGE led multiple commemorative activities with the goals to educate and create awareness of gender, women and girls’ participation and leadership in Canada, and GBV in Canada.   Gender Equality Week, Women’s History Month and the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV in 2021, and International Women’s Day in 2022 were all actively promoted on WAGE channels (web, social media, internal communications) with themes and messaging common to Government of Canada departments and agencies to deliver a coordinated approach and amplify key messages in support of the objectives of each commemoration. WAGE also supported other departments to foster gender equity through their own events and messaging.  Actions focused both on internal (federal government) and external messaging and activities.

Further, WAGE led on public opinion research to better understand how to reach youth and educate them on GBV and developed a Youth Awareness Campaign for launch in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Develop and deliver programming to support projects that address systemic barriers to gender equality and to support the capacity and sustainability of women’s and equality-seeking organizations

Within the UN’s Global Indicator Framework, this programming is expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.
• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
• Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.
• Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
• Target 8.9: Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.

Within the Canadian Indicator Framework, this programming is expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Ambition: Canadians are well represented at all levels of decision making
  • Ambition: Canadians share responsibilities within households and families.
• Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • Ambition: Canadians have access to quality jobs
• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced
• Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Ambition: Canadians have access to quality housing
• Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Ambition: Canadians are safe and secure, in person and online, Ambition: Canadians have equal access to justice,
  • Ambition: Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

Through the Women’s Program:

Projects funded to encourage women’s leadership and democratic participation that were completed in 2021-22 created and disseminated more than 50 different resources to increase awareness of what services and supports were available and how to access them. As a result of these projects, 179,292 women gained access to services and supports that resulted in better opportunities in education, employment, health, and social services.

Projects funded to increase women’s economic security and prosperity in this area that were completed in 2021-22 developed and disseminated 258 resources, including toolkits, guides and various models. As a result, over 283,856 people gained skills and knowledge to create more equitable conditions for women in various spheres.

Additionally, 87% of funded projects in 2021-22 that were completed, reported that they developed and implemented concrete solutions to the systemic barriers faced by women. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified systemic and longstanding inequalities, with women and girls disproportionately impacted by the crisis.  On February 11, 2021, the Department launched the $100M Feminist Response and Recovery Fund call for proposals. As announced on July 29, 2021, the Fund is supporting 237 systemic change projects across the Women’s Program’s three priority areas (ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security and prosperity of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles). This investment ensures that Canada’s response and recovery is inclusive of diverse women by prioritizing projects tackling barriers faced by marginalized or underrepresented women, including Indigenous women, Black women, women of colour, women who are members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and women living with disabilities or in rural or remote communities.

SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Advance the development and implementation of a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

Lead and coordinate the implementation of the federal GBV Strategy

Within the UN’s Global Indicator Framework, the GBV Strategy and Action Plan are expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

Within the Canadian Indicator Framework, the GBV Strategy and Action Plan are expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• CIF Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Ambition: Canadians are safe and secure, in person and online.
  • Ambition: Canadians have equal access to justice.
  • Ambition: Canadians are supported by effective, accountable and transparent institutions

Over the course of the 2021-22 fiscal year, WAGE, in partnership with provinces and territories, continued to advance towards a Gender-based Violence (GBV) National Action Plan (NAP). On January 22, 2021, at their 38th annual ministerial meeting, the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of Women endorsed the Joint Declaration for a Canada free of GBV an important step in developing the GBV NAP. Additionally, in December 2021, at the 39th annual meeting, FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women reaffirmed their commitment and collaboration to advance a GBV NAP.

In 2021-22, under the Federal GBV Strategy WAGE continued to support 59 projects and spent a total of $7.3 million through its GBV program. Funding for this Program is helping service providers, organizations, governments, and others working to prevent GBV to collaborate more, and to support victims, survivors and their families.  To date, more than 500 new partnerships have been created, facilitating the development of training on cultural safety and trauma informed service delivery, transformation care for 2SLGBTQI+ victims/survivors of GBV, and piloting new supports the help survivors of GBV navigate the legal system.

Research funded in 2021-22 led to the release of 13 research reports on priority research areas. These reports also allowed for the further disaggregation of data from the 2018 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces.  Planning is also underway for related research initiatives such as the development of a national Femicide Information System in collaboration with Statistics Canada, and a Call for Proposals for community-based research has been launched with the aim to announce recipients in summer 2023.

The GBV Knowledge Mobilization Team , through the GBV Secretariat, organized 11 knowledge mobilization events in 2021-22, which reached over 2,071 individuals from a wide range of partners and stakeholders. Additionally, six new or updated web products were posted online, which generated 75,883 visits representing a 30% increase compared to 2020-21.

WAGE also supported the extensive efforts already made across the country to prevent and address GBV at Post-Secondary Institutions (PSIs) under the federal GBV strategy. To advance these efforts, in 2021-22, the Department provided $2 million over two years (2021 to 2023) to Possibility Seeds Consulting. This commitment builds on the promising practices, tools, protocols, and programs articulated in the WAGE-funded Courage to Act report. This project will create evidence-based tools; engage the Courage to Act network through skill-sharing meetings; expand its knowledge centre; and pilot, evaluate, and refine tools, policies, and procedures.

Budget 2021 committed $601.3M over five years under the federal GBV strategy to advance towards the GBV NAP.  Of this, $415 million was dedicated for WAGE, including $104 million in fiscal 2021-22. Total funding includes:

• $14 million over five years, starting in 2021-22 to establish a dedicated secretariat to coordinate the ongoing work towards the development and implementation of the GBV NAP. The Secretariat was fully established in 2021-22.
• $55 million over five years to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+people. The Call for Proposals for this funding was launched on January 27, 2022, and closed March 10, 2022.
• $105 million over five years, for WAGE to enhance its GBV Program. Thus far, 72 projects have been approved for a total investment of $27 million, which is in addition to the 59 projects supported by the GBV program mentioned above. .
• $30 million over five years, so that crisis hotlines can serve the urgent needs of more Canadians experiencing GBV and offer more robust services.  As PTs are best placed to identify which organizations operating crisis lines need funding and where federal funding can meaningfully address gaps, bilateral contribution agreements with the PT governments were negotiated to distribute funding to existing crisis hotlines within their jurisdictions.
• $200 million, for a total of $300 million since April 2020, in emergency COVID-19 funding for organizations supporting those experiencing GBV.  This funding is ensuring the continuity of services and is enhancing the capacity of over 1,400 organizations that provide critical and often life-saving services and supports for women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+, and gender non-binary people experiencing violence. Funding has supported organizations in every province and territory, including those serving Northern, rural and remote communities. As of March 31, 2022, more than 1.3 million individuals had a place to turn to because of this funding.
• $11million over five years for GBV research and knowledge mobilization. In 2021-22, WAGE and Statistics Canada collaborated on the launch of work to implement a national Femicide Information System. Additionally, WAGE and Statistics Canada began work on a series of consultations for the development of the second cycle of the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces and plans for targeted oversampling to support better data disaggregation. A full report on the outcomes of those consultations and implications for implementing the survey will be completed by the end of 2022-23.

Develop and deliver programming to support projects that address systemic barriers to gender equality and to support the capacity and sustainability of women’s and equality-seeking organizations

Within the UN’s Global Indicator Framework, this programming is expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.
• Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

Within the Canadian Indicator Framework, this programming is expected to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to progress on:

• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Ambition: Canadians are well represented at all levels of decision making
  • Ambition: Canadians share responsibilities within households and families.
• Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • Ambition: Canadians have access to quality jobs
• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced
• Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Ambition: Canadians have access to quality housing
• Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Ambition: Canadians are safe and secure, in person and online, Ambition: Canadians have equal access to justice,
  • Ambition: Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

Projects funded to encourage women’s leadership and democratic participation that were completed in 2021-22 created and disseminated more than 50 different resources to increase awareness of what services and supports were available and how to access them. As a result of these projects, 179,292 women gained access to services and supports that resulted in better opportunities in education, employment, health, and social services.

Additionally, projects funded to increase women’s economic security and prosperity in this area that were completed in 2021-22 developed and disseminated 258 resources, including toolkits, guides and various models. As a result, over 283,856 people gained skills and knowledge to create more equitable conditions for women in various spheres.

Finally, 87% of funded projects in 2021-22 that were completed, reported that they developed and implemented concrete solutions to the systemic barriers faced by women. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified systemic and longstanding inequalities, with women and girls disproportionately impacted by the crisis. On February 11, 2021, the Department launched the $100M Feminist Response and Recovery Fund call for proposals. As announced on July 29, 2021, the Fund is supporting 237 systemic change projects across the Women’s Program’s three priority areas (ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security and prosperity of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles). This investment ensures that Canada’s response and recovery is inclusive of diverse women by prioritizing projects tackling barriers faced by marginalized or underrepresented women, including Indigenous women, Black women, women of colour, women who are members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and women living with disabilities or in rural or remote communities.