Advancing Gender-Based Violence Services through Intersectional Human Rights Assessment
Berries by Roger Garcia and Birds by Carla Rae Taylor
In collaboration with partners across Canada, in 2024 JHC is undertaking a comprehensive nationwide rights-based assessment of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) sector. This project aims to address the heightened crisis of GBV exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its intersection with racism, ableism, sexism, and low-incomes.
Through this 24-month project, the JHC aims to contribute to the improvement of GBV services for at-risk groups by applying an intersectional lens to community-based best practices and engaging stakeholders in direct implementation strategies aligned with the Federal Action Plan. By fostering collaboration and providing resources, the project will identify concrete ways to strengthen inclusive and effective responses to GBV across Canada.
The primary objectives of this research project are as follows:
Identify Best Practices: Evaluate inclusive and just approaches to responding to and preventing GBV within NGOs.
Assess Sector Capacity: Examine strengths and gaps in the GBV sector's capacity to provide services guided by human rights principles.
Mobilize National Action Plan: Support partners and sector leaders in strengthening and disseminating practical strategies aligned with the National Action Plan to end GBV.
Enhance Collaboration: Foster collaboration among organizations, workers, and leaders of the GBV sector while promoting an intersectional understanding of GBV.
Provide Tools and Resources: Develop tools and resources to strengthen capacity for inclusion and dignity within community organizations and stakeholders.
Expected Outcomes:
Documentation of best practices and action strategies aligned with the Federal Action Plan.
Strengthened collaboration among partners working to address GBV.
Development of tools and resources to support capacity-building among service providers.
Dissemination of research findings through outreach and workshops to enhance knowledge sharing and promote effective interventions.
Assessment for People Working in the Gender-Based Violence Sector
Assessment for Community Members Accessing Gender-Based Violence Services
The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights has been actively involved in addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through collaborative partnerships and programs over the last decade. Following our mission to advance dignity, freedom, justice, and security through collaborative relationships and transformative education on peace and human rights, JHC has particularly supported and facilitated GBV organizations in developing resources and advocacy tools, accessing and delivering training, and navigating remediation processes with victims.
Some key initiatives have included:
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JHC is a foundational partner with Righting Relations Canada (RRC), a national movement of women and gender-diverse educators and community organizers contributing to radical social change that has existed since 2015. We have led the development and growth of RR in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan (West Hub). Within the West Hub, JHC has steered the development of educational resources, and advocacy strategies on issues related to GBV such as the creation of educational tools and strategies on MMIWG2S; guided and facilitated the 2STQLGBIA+ Change Lab (working group) that produced the Building Utopia Zine; and led the Non-Profit Transformation Change Lab that produced a research report that unveils toxicity in the non-profit sector and a accompanying toolkit designed to support non-profit workers reflect on the issues they face and on how to transform their realities.
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Since 2017, JHC's Stride Advocacy program has supported women and gender-diverse individuals experiencing rights violations by assisting them in documenting their concerns, exploring options to complain and achieve remedy, and navigating complaint and remediation processes. Through the Stride Advocacy program, we have particularly supported Indigenous women facing violence due to houselessness and jurisdictional gaps in services. We have collaborated with organizations such as the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE), ACT Alberta, Alberta Somali Community Centre and other groups to provide training and support grassroots initiatives addressing violence, particularly in relation to young Black Muslim women.
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In 2021, JHC facilitated the creation of a collaborative approach to addressing Human Trafficking in southern Alberta. The Action Coalition of Human Trafficking (ACT Alberta), the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), CEASE, Blood Tribe, and JHC came together to address challenges related to human trafficking and exploitation, particularly those concerning young Indigenous women. They provide training to frontline service providers and contribute to the development of networking spaces.
JHC also collaborated with the Indo-Canadian Women’s Association and other partners, including YWCA and Today Family Centre, to undertake a GBV analysis, training development, and toolkit development in 2015 and 2016 to address culturally based issues related to GBV.
JHC actively collaborates with RaricaNow!, a 2STQLGBIA+ organization, on issues related to housing and mental health services for the community they serve. This partnership has been recognized with the Community Partnership Award from the Stonewall Convention and Queer Cultural Awards in 2022. -
Nonprofit partners have played an important role in developing, designing, guiding, and implementing the research. They have contributed to shaping and implementing the framework; participated in an advisory team that is guiding and steering the research; and supported outreach to survivors/victims as well as other community-based organizations for engagement and dissemination.
Sustainable Human Empowerment Associates (SHE) consults on the project to support focus groups, analysis, and writing. SHE has over 15 years of experience in project design, management, participatory action research, and policy making.
SHE Associates, Righting Relations Canada, and RARICANow are part of the advisory team.
We are grateful to Women and Gender Equality Canada for enabling us to do this critical work to support and strengthen a fundamental sector in the well-being of the most vulnerable in this country and contribute to helping achieve the goals the Government of Canada has set to address gender-based violence.
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Community Research Ethics Board. If you feel you have not been treated according to the descriptions in our information, or your rights as a participant in research have been violated during the course of this project, you may contact the Chair, Community Research Ethics Board, at:
Community Research Ethics Office (Canada) Corp.
c/o Centre for Community Based Research
140 Westmount Road North, Waterloo ON N2L 3G6