From Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children:
In partnership with Web of Impact (Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children), ESVA Canada is hosting a virtual briefing session on Thursday, August 13th from 1-2pm EST to share this strategy and show attendees how to participate in the upcoming fall advocacy campaign using this toolkit. Register today!
The Ending Sexual Violence Association (ESVA) of Canada recently released Stronger Workers, Stronger Survivors: A Strategy to Strengthen the Gender-Based Violence Workforce in Canada. The strategy is composed of 4 sections, each of which can be viewed on their own. Together, these documents construct a national picture of the GBV workforce, the conditions shaping workers’ experiences, and the structural changes needed to strengthen the sector over the long term.
This session will demonstrate how to use and adapt the toolkit to fit an organization’s capacity, priorities, and audience. It will also share practical guidance for participating in the campaign, amplifying key messages, and joining a coordinated national call for stronger, more sustainable support for the gender-based violence workforce.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Samantha Fernandes has worked in the field of Gender-based Violence (GBV) for 20 years, with 16 years experience in community settings supporting front-line programs. During this time she has gained valuable experience in cross-sectoral partner engagement, trauma informed approaches, program design, development, and evaluation. This professional experience coupled with her Masters degree in Social Work has made her a strategic partnership developer, systemic thinker and innovative problem solver.
Samantha is currently the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations at the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada. For the last 4 years she has engaged in research and policy initiatives that aim to understand the challenges faced by workers in the GBV sector across Canada, and has been exploring solutions to address these struggles. Samantha has led the development of a national Labour Force Strategy for the GBV workforce, which articulates the systemic changes needed to strengthen the sector and its workers.
Somiya Tabassum has worked across the Gender-Based Violence sector in sexual violence research, public education, and community engagement. Her background in Psychology and Criminology has shaped how she approaches this work—with attention to the connections between personal experience, community context, and the systems that influence both.
Somiya is currently the Knowledge Exchange and Communications Lead at the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada. In this role, she works to make research and advocacy more accessible, culturally responsive, and rooted in the realities of the communities they are meant to support. As part of the Stronger Workers, Stronger Survivors Labour Force Strategy, she supported the development of the Advocacy Toolkit, creating flexible, ready-to-use materials that organizations can adapt to raise awareness, engage decision-makers, and advocate for stronger support for the gender-based violence workforce.
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