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Methodology

I. Coordinating Mechanisms

Coordinating mechanisms refer here to key governmental action plans, initiatives, strategies, frameworks, documents and bodies related to VAW and/or family violence. Broad, high-level mechanisms are included because of their link to and potential trickle-down impact on ministries responsible for the administration of the shelter sector.

This section provides an overview of the coordination architecture within each jurisdiction relating to efforts to prevent and respond to VAW, with a specific focus on shelters where possible.

Context and Framework

According to the United Nations, National Action Plans (NAPs) are a key mechanism for countries to coordinate the effective prevention of, and appropriate responses to all forms of violence against women (VAW).

NAPs on VAW “establish a coherent framework and strategic long-term program of activity that address root causes of VAW, strengthen systems that respond to it (including legal systems), and assign accountability and appropriate resources.”[i]

The Government of Canada does not currently have a National Action Plan on violence against women (NAP on VAW). Several of the provinces and territories have independently implemented some form of action plan or initiative related to VAW and/or family violence.

In 2013 the Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses (The Network), released The Case for a National Action Plan on Violence Against Women (A Case For). The report reviewed VAW policies and legislation at the federal and provincial/territorial levels. It also assessed action plans (APs), initiatives and strategies based on guiding principles outlined in the UN Handbook for developing a NAP on VAW.

Among the 14 recommendations outlined in the Handbook and cited in the report, the UN stipulates that APs should:

  • Recognize women as the primary victims of domestic violence, and gender inequality as its root cause
  • Identify adequate budgetary resources
  • Ensure consistency among relevant legislation and policies
  • Specify data collection and research
  • Include monitoring and evaluation mechanisms

Based on these guiding principles, the report concluded at the time that:

  • The federal government does not identify women (as a singular demographic) as an at-risk population in terms of intimate partner violence or sexual violence
  • Focus at the federal level is on gender-neutral victims of crime and family violence
  • Most provinces/territories recognize gendered violence within an historical context of gender inequality complicated by other social inequalities
  • VAW is not defined comprehensively across federal and provincial/territorial policy
  • Women’s safety is compromised by government under-funding
  • There are few evaluations of what works to prevent VAW, change attitudes and behaviour, and respond effectively

The report’s overall takeaway was that to date VAW responses have been “largely fragmented” and “often inaccessible.” It claimed that “many current policies, legislation, strategies, and action plans across Canada lack effective coordination of efforts, conflict with one another, and/or have unintended (negative) consequences.”

However, the report also emphasized the opportunities, noting that many provincial/territorial initiatives and APs “provide promising ground on which to build a NAP on all forms of VAW.”

Next is a table of the up-to-date action plans, initiatives and strategies across the country related to VAW and/or Family Violence.

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