Knowledge Synthesis Leads to Action Plans for Ending Gender-Based Violence and Promoting Equity in Nova Scotia
At Connect Women’s Centres (Connect), we are deeply committed to addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and advancing equity for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals across Nova Scotia. In pursuit of this mission, and with generous funds from the Status of Women Office, Connect contracted Be the Peace Institute to complete the research for these reports. We hope this research serves as both a synthesis and a road-map for action, providing valuable insights and recommendations for front-line workers and community organizations dedicated to ending GBV. The following collection of knowledge synthesis reports aim to make the combined impact of several landmark reports accessible and digestible to community organizations, including our own staff and volunteer board members.
Our work builds upon and draws from five highly influential documents that have shaped policies and strategies to combat GBV:
- Reclaiming Power and Place (June 30, 2019) presents 231 Calls to Justice aimed at eliminating violence and honouring victims.
- National Action Plan on Violence Against Women and Gender-Based Violence (NAP) (November 9, 2022) outlines a ten-year implementation strategy through federal, provincial, and territorial agreements, emphasizing support, prevention, justice, social infrastructure, and Indigenous-led approaches.
- Turning the Tide Together, Final Report of the Mass Casualty Commission (MCC) (March 2023) includes 130 recommendations to improve community safety, policing response, access to firearms, and violence prevention, with 17 recommendations specifically addressing GBV.
- Nova Scotia’s Equity and Anti-Racism Strategy (NS EAR) (July 2023) seeks to dismantle systemic hate, inequity, and racism.
- The Inquiry into the Deaths of Corporal Lionel Desmond and His Family (January 2024) highlights critical gaps in mental health and domestic violence intervention services.
The Foundation: A Comprehensive Synthesis of Key GBV Reports in Nova Scotia 2019-2024
A fulsome synthesis that aims to build sector capacity by identifying priorities for action, gaps and opportunities related to GBV, gather evidence for a coordinated response as it aligns with each organization’s capacity and influence; empower women’s organizations with that evidence to advocate for systemic action and change with decision makers and funders.
The Summary: An Executive Summary of the Foundation Synthesis Report
A shorter, plain language summary of the Foundation document, making the findings more accessible to service providers in the women’s sector to respond and take action related to these landmark documents.
A Synthesis of Recommendations for Front-line Action
The goal of this supplementary report is to translate research into meaningful action for Women’s Centres and community-based organizations. It serves as a practical guide to help front-line workers operationalize the collective wisdom, insights, and opportunities presented across these five reports.
A Call to Action for Community-Based Organizations
These reports are designed to empower Women’s Centre staff and other community organizations to take collective action within their own communities. The recommendations provide a framework for developing a community-level response plan that aligns available resources with broader GBV prevention efforts.
By working together, we can create safer communities, advocate for systemic change, and move closer to a future free from gender-based violence.
We invite you to read the full report and join us in this critical work. Together, we can build a safer, more just 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.