Womanact

Today, on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we honour the histories, cultures, knowledge, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous Peoples around the world.

This day is an opportunity to recognize the strength, resilience, and leadership of Indigenous communities — while reflecting on the continued impacts of colonialism, systemic violence, and the work needed to advance Indigenous rights and self-determination.

Addressing gender-based violence requires recognizing the unique experiences of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, trans, and gender-diverse people, and supporting Indigenous-led solutions rooted in community, culture, and care.

Today and every day, we commit to listening, learning, and standing in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.

Women continue to face barriers to entering, staying, and advancing in STEM and skilled trades—including workplace harassment and inequitable policies.

Through Advancing Equality: Addressing Workplace Harassment through Policy Change in the STEM Sector, WomanACT is working to better understand these challenges and support policy changes that create safer, more equitable workplaces.

Learn more about the project: https://womanact.ca/projects/advancing-equality-addressing-workplace-harassment-through-policy-change-in-the-stem-sector/r

Survivors of intimate partner violence do not experience violence or systems of support equally.

For Black women in Canada, seeking safety and support can be shaped by experiences of racialized violence, discrimination, and over-criminalization.

42% of Black women in Canada report experiencing intimate partner violence (Statistics Canada, 2026). At the same time, Black women who call the police for help are more likely to be arrested alongside their abuser — creating additional barriers to seeking support and contributing to underreporting of violence.

Addressing gender-based violence requires recognizing how racism and structural violence shape survivors’ experiences.

Read Black Herstories: Resisting Gendered Racism and Structural Violence to learn more about the experiences, resilience, and resistance of Black women and gender-diverse communities.

📖 Learn more: womanact.ca/publications/black-herstories-resisting-gendered-racism-and-structural-violence/

Source: WomanACT. Black Herstories: Resisting Gendered Racism and Structural Violence.

Data matters. Accountability matters. Survivor safety matters.

Toronto City Council has directed staff to examine whether incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender-based violence (GBV) changed during the FIFA World Cup 2026, and how they affected communities and municipal services across the city.

WomanACT thanks Councillor Lily Cheng for bringing this important motion forward and for her commitment to advancing evidence-informed action to prevent and address gender-based violence. This is an important step toward greater transparency, accountability, and survivor-centred public policy.

WomanACT has consistently called for stronger data collection, public reporting, and transparency on intimate partner violence and gender-based violence. Better data helps us understand where violence is occurring, identify trends, strengthen accountability, inform policy, and improve prevention and response efforts. We were encouraged by the launch of the Toronto Police Service's Intimate Partner Violence Dashboard earlier this year, an important step toward increasing public access to information on IPV in Toronto. This motion builds on that momentum by recognizing the importance of understanding the impacts of major events on community safety.

Major sporting events don't cause gender-based violence, but they can amplify the conditions that allow it to happen. Research has consistently linked major sporting events to short-term increases in intimate partner violence, with studies showing spikes on match days. These risks are rooted in broader systems of sexism, misogyny, racism, homophobia, colonialism, and inequality—not in sport itself.

Understanding whether and how the FIFA World Cup affected rates of IPV and GBV in Toronto is essential. Collecting and publicly reporting this information will help identify service and system impacts, strengthen accountability, and ensure future host cities are better prepared to prevent violence and support survivors.

Gender-based violence is not collateral damage. Prevention must be embedded in every major event—not treated as an afterthought, but recognized as a fundamental part of public safety, city planning, and community well-being.

Read the Toronto City Council's full motion at https://shorturl.at/lZAdI

Economic abuse is a form of intimate partner violence that uses money and access to resources as a way to control, isolate, and limit a survivor’s independence.

Financial safety planning can help survivors identify risks, build options, and access support as they navigate their safety and well-being.

Learn more about financial safety planning through WomanACT’s EASE – Economic Abuse Support & Empowerment resource:

📖 womanact.ca/publications/infographic-financial-safety-planning-survivors-of-intimate-partner-violence/

Yesterday, the WomanACT team took a Well-Being Day.

Supporting efforts to end gender-based violence is deeply meaningful work, but it can also be emotionally demanding. Creating sustainable, healthy workplaces means recognizing that the people doing this work need time to rest, recharge, and care for themselves.

Our Well-Being Day was an opportunity for staff to step away from their inboxes, spend time with loved ones, enjoy nature, enjoy a a hearty meal, or simply unplugging. Today, we're sharing a few moments from across our team that brought them joy.

At WomanACT, we believe that supporting the well-being of those working to address gender-based violence is essential to building a stronger, more resilient sector. Caring for ourselves and one another helps ensure we can continue showing up for the communities we serve.

Thank you to our incredible team for the compassion, dedication, and care you bring to this work every day. 💜

WomanACT is heartbroken and outraged by the recent femicides of Navneet Kaur and Thi Nguyen in Toronto. We extend our deepest condolences to their families, loved ones, and communities as they grieve these unimaginable losses.

These deaths remind us that responding to intimate partner violence requires more than individual interventions after violence has escalated. It requires systems that recognize patterns of coercive control, respond proportionately to escalating risk, and work together to prevent lethal violence before it occurs.

Read WomanACT's full statement: https://womanact.ca/womanact-statement-on-recent-femicides-in-toronto/

In this episode of WomanACT’s STEM podcast series, we explore how technology is shaped by human choices, workplace culture, data, and power, reminding us that AI and digital products are never truly neutral. We also delve using technology to solve social challenges and create safer, more supportive spaces for girls and women.

Featuring:
🔹 Sarah Saska, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Feminuity
🔹 Aisha Addo, founder of the Power to Girls Foundation and creator of My Power App

We want to extend our gratitude to Sarah and Aisha for sharing their experiences and expertise.

👉 Listen now on Spotify or Youtube, and join the conversation on building a more equitable future in engineering. https://open.spotify.com/episode/55GCz3ot4e8zKAyijiy332?si=D7M_CoRySW6WDkNDTmsZ1g https://youtu.be/iKyuPKKVw5A?si=GLpIIg66t2p6Lvoq

As technology continues to shape our world, it is critical that diverse voices are included in designing the tools, systems, and innovations of tomorrow.

💡 Learn more about WomanACT's STEM initiatives and resources at https://womanact.ca/projects/supporting-safe-stem-workplaces/

Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Human trafficking is a form of gender-based violence that disproportionately impacts women, girls, and marginalized communities. Ending exploitation requires prevention, survivor-centred supports, and collective action.

If you or someone you know is experiencing human trafficking, support is available. The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline provides confidential support, information, and referrals: **1-833-900-1010** or visit: https://canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca/

You can also access WomanACT’s crisis services and safety planning resources for information and support options: https://womanact.ca/publications/crisis-services-and-safety-planning-resources/

Together, we can work toward a future where everyone can live free from violence and exploitation.