The Government of Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women is currently conducting a study titled: Promising Practices to Prevent Violence Against Women. The study is focused on best practices in education programs, social programs and policies in Canada that prevent violence against women. The Committee has asked academics, experts, and community leaders from across Canada to come and present their ideas to help inform the study. On February 5, 2015 Lana Wells was invited to present to the Committee on promising practices to prevent and address violence against women. The presentation outlined ten commitments that the Government of Canada can make that will prevent violence against women. Please follow the link for the entire presentation.

The ten commitments are:

1. Develop, implement and evaluate a National Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women and Children, in partnership with provincial and territorial governments.
2. Invest in a National Child Care Strategy.
3. Invest in the prevention of child maltreatment.
4. Invest in a national housing strategy that specifically supports women leaving abusive relationships.
5. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to engage men and boys as allies, partners and violence disrupters.
6. Invest in trauma-informed care with allied professionals (teachers, social workers, lawyers, and doctors).
7. Develop, implement and evaluate a gender equality plan.
8. Leverage schools and school systems as a prevention setting.
9. Invest in a substantive and comprehensive long-term social marketing strategy.
10. Provide sustainable funding to women’s organizations that are focused on long-term initiatives.

The Committee is mandated to report its findings to the House of Commons within one year of the study’s initiation. Follow the link to access the committee meeting minutes.