Alberta takes action: Ending gender-based violence

by ahnationtalk on May 13, 202580 Views

May 13, 2025

Alberta leads the way with the release of Canada’s most comprehensive strategy, with more than 100 concrete initiatives that will end gender-based violence in all its forms.

Gender-based violence is a devastating and complex issue happening every day in every community across Alberta and Canada, affecting people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. It often goes unnoticed or unreported and whether directly or indirectly, all Albertans are affected by it. A made-in-Alberta strategy is required to end the violence and create a safer home for every Albertan.

Building on our Strengths: Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence is a bold, provincewide plan that addresses all forms of gender-based violence. The strategy implements clear, immediate, short- and long-term actions that strengthen the work already underway. This foundational strategy outlines initiatives that ensure efforts across government and community partners are coordinated, so that Alberta can put an end to gender-based violence. Central to the strategy are commitments to engage men and boys as partners, enhance women’s economic empowerment and ensure targeted programs are Indigenous-led.

Alberta’s 10-year strategy is focused on building an understanding around what appropriate behavior is, raising awareness on every form of gender-based violence and increasing coordination across all sectors. The strategy builds on the excellent work of dedicated organizations across the province and outlines a reasonable and responsible approach to grow programs that work, address service gaps and ensure prevention, early intervention, crisis response and long-term supports are available in all corners of the province, when and where they are needed.

“Our government is proud to release Building on our Strengths: Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence, the most comprehensive strategy of its kind in Canada. Through this strategy, our government will lay the groundwork for lasting change while addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and supporting survivors.”

Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women

“Our commitment to public safety is reflected in Alberta’s approach to preventing and responding to gender-based violence by supporting victims, preventing violence and ensuring high-risk offenders are held accountable. This strategy is a bold step forward – one that brings together government, community partners and front-line professionals. United, we are proud to unveil Alberta’s decade-long commitment to ending gender-based violence, a crucial step towards a safer future for all.”

Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

“By releasing Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender Based Violence, our government is leading the charge to eradicate domestic and family violence in our communities. This will empower and support the important work of women’s shelters and sexual assault centres to ensure that every woman and child is protected and able to receive the supports they need.”

Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services

“Our justice system must be a place where survivors of gender-based violence feel heard, protected and supported. This strategy is a critical step towards building a safer Alberta where accountability and compassion go hand in hand.”

Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice

“Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit plus people disproportionately face gender-based violence. This must stop. The strategy announced today is a beacon of hope and includes tangible actions for everyone working to end gender-based violence. It builds on other work already underway to address the root causes of gender-based violence and prevent it before it occurs, such as work done by the Premier’s Council on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit Plus People, and the First Nations and Métis Women’s Councils on Economic Security, and work done under the Human Trafficking Action Plan. I am honoured to continue this important work.”

Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations

Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence complements and enhances existing initiatives such as the Premier’s Council on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit Plus People and the Human Trafficking Action Plan to address the root causes of gender-based violence and prevent it before it occurs.

Alberta’s strategy is the most comprehensive of its kind in the country, with actions that will:

Increase awareness of what gender-based violence is and what Albertans should do when they see it.
Prevent gender-based violence before it begins by addressing its underlying causes and implementing early-intervention strategies.
Empower women to be economically independent, supporting them with financial and social resources to achieve true financial independence, enabling them to live safely and build strong, independent lives.
Support Indigenous-led solutions and incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing and being into programs that address the unique needs, lived experiences and practices of Indigenous people, families and communities.
Support those affected how, where and when they need it, with timely, culturally informed, accessible and responsive support for survivors, families, those at risk, perpetrators and potential perpetrators, ensuring they receive the help they need in their own communities.

“As Chair of the Premier’s Council on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit Plus People, I am pleased that the Government of Alberta is taking a comprehensive and coordinated approach to ending gender-based violence. The Premier’s Council looks forward to working with the Government of Alberta to implement Building on Our Strengths: Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence, especially in areas that intersect with factors related to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two spirit plus people and the Alberta Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Roadmap. We are stronger when we work together.”

Rachelle Venne, chair, Premier’s Council on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit Plus People

“By prioritizing financial empowerment and Indigenous-led solutions, this strategy will help more Alberta women avoid or leave high-risk situations. Women Building Futures applauds the Government of Alberta for this farsighted, whole-of-government approach to the pervasive and complex problem of gender-based violence.”

Carol Moen, president and CEO, Women Building Futures

“This strategy signals a shift: to end gender-based violence, we must engage men and boys as part of the solution. By investing in prevention and including men in efforts to shift norms and behaviours, Alberta is paving the way for a safer, more just future.”

Lana Wells, associate professor, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, and founder of Shift2Learn

Budget 2025 invests $19.8 million to support Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-based Violence. This funding will be used to make targeted investments to ensure provincial programs are coordinated, collaborative, effective and sustainable. In total, Alberta’s government invests more than $188 million in related programming and services across government.

The strategy was informed by extensive engagement with more than 500 Albertans and organizations, including survivors, community organizations working on the front lines, Indigenous communities and academics.

Quick facts

From fall 2023 to spring 2024, Arts, Culture and Status of Women conducted extensive engagement with the public and key stakeholders, including an online survey for Albertans, specific engagement with Indigenous groups and meetings with more than 500 stakeholders in 11 communities across the province.
Gender-based violence refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It can take many forms, including physical assault, sexual assault, murder, femicide, family violence, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, stalking, financial control, threats, hate speech, cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, pornography and coercive control.
Alberta’s government invests more than $188 million annually in gender-based violence related programming across several ministries, including:
- Expanding voluntary and court-ordered programming for perpetrators and those at risk of causing harm.
- Implementing electronic monitoring technology to monitor offenders under court ordered supervision.
- Supporting women’s shelter programming to focus on access to safety and inclusive services.
- Improving the reporting and prevention efforts at post-secondary institutions and First Nations colleges to address campus sexual violence.
- Increasing service provider access to education and resources related to elder abuse.
- Supporting academic research on gender-related injury and illness in the workplace.
- Strengthening support for Albertans navigating the justice system, including developing more survivor-centered, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services.
- Implementing Indigenous-led initiatives that advance the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Roadmap.
- Strengthening safe, accessible and reliable transportation options for victims, survivors and their families seeking GBV support and services.
- Specialized 24-7 support to patients experiencing domestic and family violence.
- Working with professionals to help seniors who are experiencing GBV.
- Raising awareness of Clare’s Law to allow people to make informed choices about potentially harmful intimate partners and how it is an important tool in protecting Albertans from domestic violence.