Funding for Community Projects Working to End Gender-Based Violence

NOTE: A list of projects receiving funding from the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence in 2023-24 follows this release.

Community groups working on the front lines know what is needed to prevent gender-based violence and how to support those impacted by it. That is why the Province is funding 16 community-based organizations for projects that address gender-based violence.

“With this funding we are able to support partners like the Elizabeth Fry Society to help it empower communities to take the necessary steps to end gender-based violence and increase support to those impacted by it,” said Jill Balser, Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. “Together we can create safer, more equitable communities where everyone can live free from the threat of violence and discrimination.”

Funded through the 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, launched in November 2022, the projects align with Standing Together, the Province’s action plan to end domestic violence, and recommendations from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report, and the Desmond Fatality Inquiry final report.

In its first year, 2023-24, the Province is providing more than $3.1 million to projects that increase prevention efforts and ensure underserved populations are prioritized and supported in culturally appropriate ways.

Quotes:

“This funding will allow us to offer essential supports and services to some of Nova Scotia's most vulnerable and marginalized women and gender diverse people. Our comprehensive sexual health and well-being programming will allow victimized and criminalized individuals to feel empowered in their bodies, identities and under the law. “
— Emma Halpern, Executive Director, Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia

“Gender-based violence is a human rights violation that continues to be deeply rooted in our society. Under the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, Nova Scotia will support projects that are robust, culturally relevant and respond to the specific needs of communities in the province. The projects announced today will chart a path towards safer communities for everyone.”
— Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth

Quick Facts:

• projects funded by the national action plan fall under one of five pillars: support for victims, survivors and their families; prevention; responsive justice system; implementing Indigenous-led approaches; and social infrastructure and enabling environment
• several of the recommendations of the Mass Casualty Commission identify ways to prevent and address gender-based violence; the Status of Women office is working to ensure that our investments through the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence respond to these recommendations
• almost $1.8 million of the funding announced will support prevention efforts to engage men and boys, promote healthy relationships, and provide peer support for youth at risk or experiencing gender-based violence
• the Province’s agreement with the federal government, the Canada-Nova Scotia Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, was informed by a series of community engagement sessions with individuals and organizations that support those experiencing gender-based violence
• in 2022, 2,902 instances of domestic violence were reported to police in Nova Scotia; women were the victims in 2,243 or 78 per cent of those

Additional Resources:

National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/gender-based-violence/intergovernmental-collaboration/national-action-plan-end-gender-based-violence.html

Standing Together: A Provincial Action Plan to Prevent Domestic Violence: https://novascotia.ca/standingtogether/docs/standing-together-evaluation-summary-report.pdf

National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence – Year 1 Investments:

• Jane Paul Indigenous Women’s Resource Centre, Cape Breton Regional Municipality: support for Indigenous women at risk or experiencing human trafficking and sexual exploitation

• Access to Justice and Law Reform Institute, Halifax Regional Municipality: training, resources and legal advice to help people navigate the justice system

• Get Everyone Online (GEO Nova Scotia), Halifax Regional Municipality: 300 smart phones, phone plans and technical support for survivors of gender-based violence

• Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia: developing and delivering prevention programming for men and boys (provincewide)

• Bridges Institute, Colchester County: outreach to and counselling for Indigenous and African Nova Scotian men

• Atlantic Muslim Resource Centre, Halifax Regional Municipality: programs for men and boys in the Islamic faith-based community

• Antigonish Women’s Centre, Antigonish County: peer-to-peer school-based healthy relationships program

• Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association, Colchester County: Indigenous-led empowerment fund to improve services, including those offered by Jane Paul Indigenous Resource Centre

• Africadian Empowerment Academy, Halifax Regional Municipality – social and employment programs rooted in Afrocentrism for youth of African descent

• Antigonish Women's Centre and Women's Centres Connect: The Circles of Support Program will hire an African Nova Scotian and an Indigenous facilitator to provide healthy relationship education programming in Upper Big Tracadie, Sunnyville, Lincolnville and Paqtnkek (Antigonish and Guysborough counties)

• Coverdale Justice Society, Halifax Regional Municipality: Safe Outside Our Systems, a program for 2SLGBTQI+ people in the criminal justice system who have experienced gender-based violence

• Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunities: implementing recommendations from Not Without Us, a report to improve domestic violence supports for women with disabilities (provincewide)

• Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality: sexual health education program

• Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton, Cape Breton Regional Municipality: gender-based violence supports

• POSSE (Peer Outreach Support Services and Education), Hants County: training and education for youth to provide street level outreach and support to their peers

• Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, Halifax Regional Municipality – programming, outreach and one-on-one culturally responsive supports for urban Indigenous women, their families and youth to support healthy relationships as well as economic opportunities

NOTE: This news release was updated March 9 to include a second quote in the quotes section.

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