Alberta unveils plan to end gender-based violence, with focus on Indigenous women

Alberta has unveiled a new 10-year-plan to end gender-based violence.

Officials estimate 18,800 people are victims of intimate partner violence each year in the province.

“I want to see an Alberta and a Canada where it is rare, it’s not the norm, it’s not accepted and it’s not recurring,” said Tanya Fir, Alberta’s minister of arts, culture and status of women.

Alberta is calling it the most comprehensive gender-based violence strategy in the country.

It builds on work already being done, but takes a broader view by working to eliminate red tape between government programs and adding tools to combat newer forms of abuse like cyberbullying and revenge pornography.

The strategy includes five pillars: increasing awareness; early prevention; supporting Indigenous-led solutions; empowering women to be economically independent; and supporting survivors.

“The predominant perpetrator is often male,” explained Lana Wells, an associate professor at the University of Calgary. “Especially in sexual violence, it’s up to 98 per cent of the cases. In intimate partner violence, it’s anywhere between 80-90 per cent.

“So we know where the problem is. We have to focus on preventing it from happening in the first place.”

The plan also includes more training for police and medical professionals.

The government says it was developed in consultation with more than 500 Albertans, including survivors, academics and Indigenous communities.

“Did you know that Indigenous women are six times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women?” asked Rachelle Venne, chair of the Premier’s Council on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit Plus People.

“Sometimes I feel like these statistics are disregarded. And now we have all the statistics, we have all the recommendations, we just need action.”

‘Not enough funding’ says Alberta NDP

Alberta’s new budget includes $20 million to end gender-based violence. The government is also spending $188 million on related programs like women’s shelters and electronic monitoring of offenders.

The NDP’s shadow minister for status of women told reporters after the announcement she fears the strategy is too little too late for many vulnerable Albertans.

“I’ve been told by many shelters that they are shutting down their beds because there is not enough funding,” Julia Hayter said.

“So if we don’t have the funding for bed space right now for a woman who is fleeing domestic violence with her family, how are we actually planning to help women?”