Latest news with #NationalActionPlantoEndGender-BasedViolence
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
GO THRIVE GO - Digital Platform For Trauma Survivors Receives Ontario Government Funding
TORONTO, ONTARIO - May 28, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - 'Go Thrive Go', a digital app created to support survivors of gender-based violence, has received $610,039 from the Ontario Government as part of a larger investment that is part of Ontario's $162 million agreement with the federal government to implement the 'National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence'. The platform is the vision of Nina Mistry, founder of 'Go Thrive Go Inc.' and a former crisis line peer counsellor at a Rape and Crisis Centre. Through her work, Mistry witnessed firsthand the emotional toll survivors face - many trapped in cycles of anxiety, depression, and PTSD that leave them vulnerable to further abuse. With this new funding, 'Go Thrive Go' will develop an AI-powered web and mobile platform designed to improve campus safety, support with mental health tools and reduce violence against women on university campuses. 'Go Thrive Go's mission is to use technology to completely end rape culture. Just one act of violence can change a person's life forever. The 'red zone' - the first eight weeks of college when attacks on female students rise - calls for action and we will use AI powered technology to stop these incidents before they happen. We currently have partnerships with four schools, and through this grant, we want to work with campuses throughout Ontario to create an effective app that supports all students,' says Mistry. JP Shearer, Associate Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Impact at Queen's University, added: 'Campus safety at universities is not just a priority - it's a necessity. We're proud to support Nina in building an app that empowers students with AI-driven tools to prevent harm, promote healing, and create safer campus communities.' Dr. Nusa Fain, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Sprott School of Business, shares: 'Too many students experience gender-based violence in silence. This initiative brings innovation and compassion together - using AI to address systemic issues and empower students with culturally relevant, trauma-informed support.' About 'Go Thrive Go' Go Thrive Go Campus Safety app will be a comprehensive, AI-driven companion featuring: The app will be designed to address the complex, intersectional identities of users and deliver personalized support for survivors of gender-based violence. A trial phase is scheduled to begin by early 2027 in collaboration with partner institutions. Strategic Partnerships To research, design, and deploy the app, Go Thrive Go is partnering with: The platform will first be launched for post-secondary students, with planned expansions to rape crisis centers, shelters, non-profits, and workplaces. About 'GO THRIVE GO' - Is a Digital Platform For Trauma Survivors. Social Links LinkedIn Media Contact Full Name: Niki Papaioannou Title: Founder Company Name: NIKI INC. Email: [email protected] Phone Number: 416 568 9525 Website:
Scoop
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Expert Concerned By Canada's Abolition Of Gender Equality Minister
Geneva, 22 April 2025 The Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, today expressed concern over Canada's decision to remove the position of Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth from its 30th Cabinet, warning that it could undermine progress on gender equality, and was at odds with its long-standing position as a global leader on the issue. On 14 March 2025, Canada restructured its cabinet, consolidating gender equality responsibilities into broader portfolios, citing economic pressures. Civil society and women's rights groups have criticised the move, stressing that achieving gender equality in all areas requires sustained and dedicated leadership and resources. 'The elimination of this dedicated ministerial role is deeply troubling and risks setting a negative global precedent,' Alsalem said. 'It appears to undermine Canada's commitments under its Feminist International Assistance Policy, its National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, the Beijing Declaration, and the recent, welcomed, signature of the Belém do Pará Convention.' The Special Rapporteur warned that the decision could disproportionately harm women and girls from marginalised groups, including indigenous women, black women, and persons with disabilities, who face higher rates of violence and discrimination. She urged Canada to maintain a dedicated department on women and gender equality, led by a minister, with adequate and dedicated funding to combat gender-based violence and promote women's rights. 'If this decision is maintained, it would be important for Canada to outline how it will mitigate negative impacts on women and girls and ensure gender equality remains a priority,' the expert said. Alsalem has been in contact with the Government on these matters.
CBC
28-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Reinstate federal minister for women, gender equality and youth, say northern organizations
Northern women's organizations are calling on the prime minister to reinstate the federal minister for women and gender equality and youth (WAGE). Since March 14, a letter asking Prime Minister Mark Carney to reinstate the minister has been signed by nearly 400 organizations from across the country, including YWCA N.W.T., YWCA Agvik Nunavut, the Yukon Status of Women Council, and the Yukon Women's Transition Home Society. Some northern women's organizations were at the United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women in New York City advocating to former WAGE minister Marci Ien this month when they first learned the prime minister had eliminated her position in his cabinet shuffle. The portfolio was added to Minister Steven Guilbeault's role as minister of Canadian culture and identity, and Parks Canada. Rae Lamache, executive director of the Yukon Status of Women Council, said it sent "shockwaves" through their sector, and left Yukon groups' advocacy to Ien in limbo. "It would have been inconceivable to me that the new prime minister would cut the minister. It does send quite a message, especially in these uncertain times," said Lamache, pointing to the gutting of ministries, programs and organizations focused on equity in the U.S. WAGE is among several priorities now without dedicated cabinet positions, including official languages, diversity, inclusion, persons with disabilities and seniors. "It does raise eyebrows, to put it mildly," Lamache said. "This is not a symbolic loss. This is not simply a reshuffling of ministerial responsibilities. There was really important work in relationship building and advocacy being done at this level and it does feel very disheartening," she said. WAGE funded education on intimate partner violence for lawyers and family violence professionals, and a manual to assist people navigating family court, said Lamache. Minister Ien personally visited the Yukon in December to encourage organizations to apply for underused funding, which led to a peer support, education, research and outreach program for sex workers, she said. Thirteen feminist organizations forming the Yukon Women's Coalition are tackling systemic issues of intimate partner violence in the territory, which has one of the highest levels of reported gender-based violence in Canada, said Lamache. They run a sexual education hub, a young feminist club and a mentorship program for men and boys to be allied against domestic violence — all funded by WAGE, she said. "It's work that we are very proud of. We don't think projects like this will be as fundable without somebody advocating for them at the table," said Lamache. Jackie Neapole, executive director of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, said WAGE is a key funder. Since 2018, it backed major investments in childcare, the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence — all the "beginnings of very, very important feminist policies that have a large impact on women across the country," said Neapole. "It's such a big job that you need somebody specifically dedicated to that," she said. Nunavut's YWCA Agvik executive director, Sherri Robertson, said that during the pandemic former WAGE minister Maryam Monsef's advocacy ensured efficient crisis response and funding. "Given the increase in femicides and the increased danger women are in when economies suffer, now is the time to increase not decrease resources," she said. In Canada, a woman or girl is killed every 48 hours, according to the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability's 2022 report. That year, the organization documented 184 women and girls who were killed by violence. In 2018, 44 per cent of women reported experiencing some form of psychological, physical, or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes, according to the Canadian Women's Foundation. More than half of Nunavut's population is under 18, and children are often raised in single-parent homes and face food insecurity, overcrowding and a housing crisis. Robertson says this exposes northern women to "all types of risk for exploitation." Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay, executive director for YWCA N.W.T., said "the message it's sending to us is that the federal government does not prioritize the issues and health and well-being of women and families. "Equality is not yet achieved in any way, shape or form," she said. "Survivors continue to face a lot of challenges and barriers when it comes to getting adequate support." Dumbuya-Sesay is skeptical that civil servants in the federal department for women and gender equality will sustain the work the former minister did to elevate frontline workers' concerns on childcare, reproductive rights, violence against women, and housing insecurity. "Many things are going to be ignored. Funding is not going to be allocated to issues. The voices and concerns of service providers that are working with women that are facing these challenges are not going to be heard or communicated," she said. Through WAGE, YWCA N.W.T. secured funding for safe homes, and saw federal funds of $16 million over four years disbursed to the N.W.T. "It's not just when a woman faces violence, that she's the only one who suffers. The children also suffer as a result of that violence," Dumbuya-Sesay said. Lucy Kuptana, N.W.T.'s minister responsible for the status of women, said in a statement that WAGE offers "critical" funding for women's shelters and community initiatives. The N.W.T.'s gender equity division will "continue to work closely with their federal colleagues from the department of women and gender equality," she said.
