A Blueprint for Canada’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Violence Against Women and Girls

February 18, 2015

The United Nations has called on all countries to have a National Action Plan on Violence Against Women (VAW) by 2015. National Action Plans provide a framework for strengthening systems that prevent and respond to violence against women. They establish national standards and collaboration between all levels of government, civil society, survivors, and service responders.

Currently, Canada has no comprehensive national plan or strategy to deal with violence against women. Without a plan, responses are largely fragmented and services often inaccessible. Early in 2014, the Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses initiated a collaborative process which resulted in this Blueprint.

Developed by over 20 organizations representing most sectors in the VAW sector, this Blueprint outlines what Canada’s NAP needs to cover, and how it should be developed and implemented. In the lead up to the 2015 federal election, we will be asking all federal parties to commit to creating a National Action Plan on Violence Against Women starting with the Blueprint. Before we do that, we are building a broad base of support.

Join us in supporting the call for a National Action Plan on Violence Against Women and Girls! Endorse the Blueprint by sending an email with the name of your organization and a contact name and email to info@endvaw.ca with Blueprint in the subject line.

Update – Fall 2015

The Blueprint has received formal endorsements from over 180 organizations across Canada who are committed to ending VAW.

Update – Summer 2016
Lise Martin, Executive Director of Women’s Shelters Canada (formerly the Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses), has been named to the advisory council for a federal strategy against gender-based violence. Lise continues to advocate for a full and gender-specific National Action Plan on Violence Against Women.