A Synthesis of Action Plans for Ending Gender-Based Violence & Promoting Equity in Nova Scotia
Be the Peace Institute & Women’s Centres Connect
With funding from Nova Scotia Status of Women
January 2024 - May 2024
We are pleased to share this knowledge synthesis of recent gender-based violence related reports: A Synthesis of Action Plans for Ending Gender-Based Violence & Promoting Equity in Nova Scotia.
Be the Peace Institute was contracted by Women’s Centres Connect through generous funding from the NS Status of Women Office to read, summarize and synthesize findings and recommendations for the prevention and response to GBV from key and recent reports. The resulting summary report is intended primarily for front line and leadership of community-based/GBV sector organizations but also for anyone with a stake in addressing and ending GBV including individuals and decision makers.
Synthesized findings across reports are meant to inform immediate practice changes, opportunities to amplify and support sector influence and advocacy opportunities for collective impact.
Read the report:
Full Report - CLICK IMAGE TO ACCESS FULL REPORT
From the report:
““The experience of reading these reports in combination, as a consolidated body of work on needed systemic change to end GBV, was transformative. I have been honoured to hear the voices of the many advocates, thinkers, passionate
community leaders and survivors. It is affirming that the solutions are known and with government investment and our collective response, an end to GBV could happen.
But the grief and frustration is ongoing. There have been many lives lost, and families and communities irreparably impacted: the 4,000+ missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; the 22 victims of the perpetrator of the mass casualty incident in Portapique, Nova Scotia; the [Upper Tracadie] family and
communities; and the incalculable tally of survivors and victims of GBV that inform these reports, the research and the solutions. Their anguished voices are also a hopeful call for greater sector amplification and activation of effective, collaborative solutions.””
Author’s note: While we made every effort to consider diverse viewpoints in our interpretation of these key reports, the researcher and BTPI are non-objective interpreters. Efforts were made to mine and address biases as a white, settler woman, and to synthesize report findings from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trans inclusive and identity affirming perspective. As a member of the GBV Sector, we remain transparently dedicated to the systemic change needed to uplift the GBV advocacy and support sector as an essential, sustainably funded health and social service. This message was affirmed across all reports.
Executive Summary - click image to view full report
Front Line Report - click image to view full report
Source Reports:
Reclaiming Power and Place, the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), June 2019, includes 231 Calls for Justice, many aimed at addressing individual, government and community-based possibilities for action to end race-based GBV and the genocide of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (NAP), November 2022, is a strategic framework for action within and across jurisdictions with the goal of supporting victims/survivors, and their families, and to prevent and address GBV across 5 pillars emphasizing support, prevention, justice, social infrastructure, and Indigenous-led approaches.
Turning the Tide Together, Final Report of the Mass Casualty Commission (MCC), March 2023, was the resulting report from the joint public inquiry created to examine the April 18-19, 2020 mass casualty in Nova Scotia, providing 130 meaningful recommendations to help make communities safer, including 17 specifically addressing GBV.
Nova Scotia’s Equity and Anti-Racism Strategy (NS EAR), July 2023, accompanies the Nova Scotia’s Dismantling Racism and Hate Act, to address systemic hate, inequity, and racism experienced by underrepresented and underserved communities in Nova Scotia.
The “DFI”*, January 2024, was the fatality inquiry called at the order of the NS Minister of Justice and submitted to the Provincial Court highlighting critical gaps in coordinated services, health information sharing, and importantly - culturally responsive and led mental health and domestic violence intervention services, particularly in rural areas.
*We are not using the full name of this report in an effort to reduce further harm to those affected by this tragedy. The “DFI” report was in response to the fatal GBV incident in Upper Big Tracadie, NS in 2017 .
How have we been applying the knowledge synthesis?
BTPI has already begun using and sharing report findings with colleagues and decision makers and to inform our work. Report recommendations have influenced our advocacy efforts with government on service gaps and needed ‘epidemic level funding’ for the sector, our prevention research lens, training & education recommendations and public awareness messaging.
We continue to commit to mobilizing key learnings from these important reports, ensuring their calls to action are answered and to inform our collective efforts to reduce and end GBV in Nova Scotia.
To cite these reports, please use:
Connect Women’s Centres of Nova Scotia. (2024) A Synthesis of Action Plans for Ending Gender-Based Violence and Promoting Equity in Nova Scotia.