Amanda Dale

Frontiers of a Gender Equality Paradox: IHRL and Canada’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence against Women

Introduction

Frontiers of a gender equality paradox: ihrl and canada’s national action plan on gender-based violence against women. Explores Canada's National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence (NAPGBV), feminist policy-making, and IHRL. Examines accountability for GBV, focusing on Indigenous women's experiences.

Abstract

This article explores the experience and lessons from developing Canada’s first national action plan for gender-based violence (NAPGBV) as an example of the vicissitudes of feminist policy-making. The author specifies the processes, methodologies, and collaborations the Expert Engagement Group that she coordinated in a project to guide Canada’s Women and Gender Equality Ministry in developing the NAPGBV. She explores her experiences at the intersection of activism and policy-making, detailing Canada’s international human rights obligations to prevent and protect against gender-based violence (GBV) as the frame of reference. The article traces the separate paths to accountability for GBV in Canada regarding Indigenous women’s experiences and those of more mainstream or settler efforts. The author posits that GBVAW is a multifaceted issue that requires cross-sector collaboration and immediate, sustained, monitored, and accountable action by all governments according to their respective responsibilities and in keeping with international best practices.

Review

The article, "Frontiers of a Gender Equality Paradox: IHRL and Canada’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence against Women," offers a timely and invaluable contribution to the literature on feminist policy-making and state accountability for gender-based violence (GBV). The author's unique position as the coordinator of the Expert Engagement Group for Canada's first National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence (NAPGBV) provides a rare and insightful 'insider' perspective on the intricate processes, methodologies, and collaborations involved in such a significant policy endeavor. This firsthand account promises to illuminate the often-opaque intersection of activism, international human rights law (IHRL), and governmental policy development in a developed nation. The abstract effectively highlights several critical dimensions of this policy-making journey. It frames the NAPGBV within Canada’s international human rights obligations, establishing a robust standard against which national efforts are evaluated. Particularly compelling is the article's intention to trace the "separate paths to accountability" for GBV concerning Indigenous women's experiences versus those of mainstream or settler efforts. This distinction is crucial for understanding the complexities inherent in addressing GBV within a colonial context and offers a nuanced exploration of the "gender equality paradox" alluded to in the title. Furthermore, the emphasis on GBVAW as a multifaceted issue demanding cross-sector collaboration, sustained action, and robust monitoring underscores the comprehensive approach advocated by the author. This article is poised to be an essential resource for scholars, policymakers, and activists engaged in combating GBV globally. Its detailed exposition of the Canadian experience can serve as a critical case study, offering lessons and challenges pertinent to other nations striving to develop similar comprehensive strategies. By dissecting the "vicissitudes of feminist policy-making" and grounding them in both lived experience and international legal frameworks, the author provides a blueprint for understanding the complexities and pitfalls of translating human rights principles into actionable policy. Given its unique perspective, strong analytical framework, and profound relevance to contemporary global efforts to achieve gender equality, this paper is highly recommended for publication.

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