In conversation with EVA Canada’s member organizations, partners, and other collaborators across the country, EVA Canada works to identify and take action on cross-sectoral and cross-jurisdictional policy and advocacy issues facing the gender-based violence sector. We engage in policy change and advocacy through a variety of mechanisms, including developing policy briefs, submitting letters and recommendations to government, making submissions to parliamentary committees, and creating policy tools for others in the sector.
Learn more about our policy change and advocacy efforts:
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Sexual Violence: A Public Health Crisis in Need of Proportional Response
Sexual Violence: A Public Health Crisis in Need of Proportional Response
Following the 2021 federal election, EVA Canada wanted to ensure that violence against women and gender-based violence were key priorities for the newly elected government. Built on consultations with sexual violence advocates across the country, EVA Canada developed a resource that outlines how and why sexual violence is a key issue for federal, provincial, and territorial governments that should be centered in the action plans put out by party leaders and candidates.
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Community Engagement Session on Identifying Priorities for Addressing Sexual Violence in the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based ViolenceCommunity Engagement Session on Identifying Priorities for Addressing Sexual Violence in the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence
In March 2021, EVA Canada brought together sexual violence advocates from across the country to share their perspective on how the National Action Plan on Violence Against Women and Gender-Based Violence can meet the needs of survivors of sexual violence and the organizations that support them. The recommendations were centered around the proposed pillars of the National Action Plan including: support for survivors and families, social infrastructure and enabling environment (housing and children), promotion of a responsive legal justice system, prevention, and Indigenous-led responses. -
Submission to the Canadian Armed Forces Survivor Support Consultation GroupSubmission to the Canadian Armed Forces Survivor Support Consultation Group
Sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has emerged as a significant issue requiring immediate action in order to promote culture change within the institution and to ensure adequate supports are available to survivors of sexual misconduct. EVA Canada participated as a subject matter expert on the Survivor Support Consultation Group to identify and make recommendations toward strengthening the CAF’s approach to supporting survivors of sexual misconduct. Drawing on input from community-based sexual violence advocates, EVA Canada emphasized the need for culture change within the CAF that addresses the systemic causes of sexual violence; ensuring supports that reflect the diverse needs of survivors; and implementing oversight mechanisms that involve external advocates and experts to evaluate and monitor progress. -
Statement in Solidarity with Indigenous Families (December 2022)
Following the murder of four Indigenous women, EVA Canada joined with organizations and advocates to echo the calls of Indigenous advocates for immediate and concrete action to better implement the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQI+ 231 Calls for Justice and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
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Joint Statement on the Release of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence
EVA Canada joined advocates across the country to highlight the limited sexual violence-specific recommendations included in the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence released by the federal government in November 2022.
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Statement on Increased Rates of Intimate Partner Sexual Assaults in Canada
In response to the increase in rates of police-reported intimate partner sexual assaults in 2021 compared to 2020, EVA Canada released a statement to emphasize the need for increased support for specialized sexual violence services.
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Statement on Hockey Canada’s Handling of Sexual Assault
After the Globe and Mail investigation shed light on Hockey Canada’s multimillion dollar fund that was used to settle claims of sexual assault out of court, EVA Canada sent a letter to the Minister of Sport and released a statement to express our concerns and highlight some potential next steps.
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Statement on the need for the National Action Plan to End GBV to better address gaps for survivors of sexual violenceTo mark the end of Year 1 (2023-24) of the implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, EVA Canada conducted an analysis of the provincial and territorial agreements and implementation plans through a sexualized violence lens. This statement outlines our concern that specialized sexual violence services, and specifically sexual assault centres have been largely overlooked. We outline our main concerns and identify three actions for improvement. Read our full statement and review our analysis of the agreements through a sexualized violence lens.
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Submission to the Department of Justice on the Criminalization of Coercive Control in Canada through a Sexualized Violence LensSubmission to the Department of Justice on the Criminalization of Coercive Control in Canada through a Sexualized Violence Lens In October 2023, EVA Canada submitted input to the Department of Justice on the criminalization of coercive control. In our submission, we highlighted the importance of understanding the role of sexual violence in coercive control.
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Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2024 Federal BudgetSubmission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2024 Federal Budget In August 2023, EVA Canada made a submission for the pre-budget consultations in advance of the 2024 Federal Budget. In our submission, we included 5 recommendations focused on addressing sexual violence.
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Submission on the Impact of Sexual Violence Perpetrated Against or By Athletes on the Participation of Women and Girls in Sport to the HOC Standing Committee on the Status of WomenSubmission on the Impact of Sexual Violence Perpetrated Against or By Athletes on the Participation of Women and Girls in Sport to the HOC Standing Committee on the Status of Women In a brief submitted December 2022, EVA Canada highlighted the impact of sexual violence on the participation of women and girls in supports. We emphasized that the negative consequences are not just significant mental health or other injuries, but also the perpetuation of a sport culture in which women and girls are not treated with dignity and perpetrators are not held to account.
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Submission on the Impact of Sexual Violence on the Mental Health of Young Women & Girls to the HOC Standing Committee on the Status of WomenSubmission on the Impact of Sexual Violence on the Mental Health of Young Women and Girls to the HOC Standing Committee on the Status of Women In November 2022, EVA Canada submitted a brief highlighting the mental health consequences of sexual violence, emphasizing the need for specialized sexual violence services. In this submission, we proposed two overarching recommendations to recognize, respond to, and prevent sexual violence against young women and girls, and to ensure consistent operational funding to community-based sexual assault centres and services for young survivors.
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Submission on Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of WomenIn March 4, 2022, EVA Canada’s Executive Director Erin Whitmore appeared before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women as part of its study on Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence in Canada. In EVA Canada’s submission, we highlighted the urgent need for action on the development of a National Action Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence and Violence Against Women and the need to ensure that survivors of sexual violence and the organizations that support them are included in the committees work on intimate partner and domestic violence. Read the written submission here.
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Responses to Federal Ministers’ Mandate Letters (2022)Following the release of the mandate letters for federal government ministers in December 2021, EVA Canada sent letters to Ministers whose mandate focuses on gender-based violence. We highlighted the importance of the action items related to gender-based violence included in their mandate letters, and identified our own recommendations for action and collaboration. Read the letters here:
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Letter of Congratulation to New Federal Ministers (2021)Following the appointment of new federal government cabinet ministers, EVA Canada sent a letter of congratulation to Ministers whose departments play an integral role in addressing and ending gender-based violence. In our letters, we highlighted the important role we see their department playing in strengthening responses to addressing gender-based violence. Read the letters here:
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Submission on Sexual Violence and the COVID-19 to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science, and TechnologySubmission on Sexual Violence and the COVID-19 to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science, and Technology On June 15, 2020, EVA Canada made a written submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on Canada’s Response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this submission, we highlighted the distinct impacts the pandemic holds for organizations and services dedicated to addressing and responding to gender-based violence, and for those at risk of experiencing gender-based violence.
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Submission on Bill C-5 to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsSubmission on Bill C-5 to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights In May 2020, EVA Canada made a written submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Bill C-5, an Act to amend the Judges Act and Criminal Code which mandated training on sexual violence for judges.
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Gender-Based Violence Settlement Sector National Strategy
Gender-Based Violence Settlement Sector National Strategy
With funding from Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC), partners on the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Settlement Strategy Project, including the YMCA of Halifax/Dartmouth, the Ontario Council of Associations Serving Immigrants (OCASI), the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance (CISSA_ACSEI), and Ending Violence Association of Canada developed a national strategy called the Gender-Based Violence Settlement Sector Strategy. The strategy aims to build a common base of knowledge and coordinate responses to GBV between the settlement and anti-violence sectors. It offers five key priorities for front-line workers who provide programs and services for newcomers, immigrants, and refugees across Canada.
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Collaboration with the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson
EVA Canada provided input and recommendations to the Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson in their development of a new service improvement request to the Canada Revenue Agency to assist Canadians fleeing abuse or violence.