During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence and following the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), announced $1,333,430 for the DisAbled Women's Network Canada (DAWN Canada) for their project Scaling Resilience and Change.
DAWN Canada will work with partners to expand a peer support model for women and 2SLGBTQI+ people with disabilities who have experienced gender-based violence. This includes Black, Indigenous, racialized, francophone, or Deaf communities who may face many barriers to staying safe. This promising practice will now have a greater impact by reaching new locations, as the organization will create a new training program for peer mentors and help partner organizations use it in their own communities. Peer mentoring helps people connect with others who share similar lived experiences, which builds trust, reduces isolation, and provides practical and emotional support.
The federal government continues to prevent and address gender-based violence, which requires coordinated action across governments, communities and stakeholders to create lasting social and economic change. This includes supporting survivors, advancing economic independence, and addressing root causes of violence through evidence-based policies and programs that leave no one behind. A total of $223.4 million over five years, starting in 2026-2027, with $44.7 million ongoing, has been allocated to strengthen programs and services for those affected by gender-based violence.
