The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights has been actively involved in addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through collaborative partnerships and programs over the last decade. Following our mission to advance dignity, freedom, justice, and security through collaborative relationships and transformative education on peace and human rights, JHC has particularly supported and facilitated GBV organizations in developing resources and advocacy tools, accessing and delivering training, and navigating remediation processes with victims.

Righting Relations Canada (network)
JHC is a foundational partner with Righting Relations Canada (RRC), a national movement of women and gender-diverse educators and community organizers contributing to radical social change that has existed since 2015. We have led the development and growth of RR in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan (West Hub). Within the West Hub, JHC has steered the development of educational resources, and advocacy strategies on issues related to GBV such as the creation of educational tools and strategies on MMIWG2S; guided and facilitated the 2STQLGBIA+ Change Lab (working group) that produced the Building Utopia Zine; and led the Non-Profit Transformation Change Lab that produced a research report that unveils toxicity in the non-profit sector and a accompanying toolkit designed to support non-profit workers reflect on the issues they face and on how to transform their realities.

Stride Advocacy Program
Since 2017, JHC's Stride Advocacy program has supported women and gender-diverse individuals experiencing rights violations by assisting them in documenting their concerns, exploring options to complain and achieve remedy, and navigating complaint and remediation processes. Through the Stride Advocacy program, we have particularly supported Indigenous women facing violence due to houselessness and jurisdictional gaps in services. We have collaborated with organizations such as the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE), ACT Alberta, Alberta Somali Community Centre and other groups to provide training and support grassroots initiatives addressing violence, particularly in relation to young Black Muslim women.

In 2021, JHC facilitated the creation of a collaborative approach to addressing Human Trafficking in southern Alberta. The Action Coalition of Human Trafficking (ACT Alberta), the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), CEASE, Blood Tribe, and JHC came together to address challenges related to human trafficking and exploitation, particularly those concerning young Indigenous women. They provide training to frontline service providers and contribute to the development of networking spaces.

JHC also collaborated with the Indo-Canadian Women’s Association and other partners, including the YWCA and Today Family Centre, to undertake a GBV analysis, training development, and toolkit development in 2015 and 2016 to address culturally based issues related to GBV.

JHC actively collaborates with RaricaNow!, a 2STQLGBIA+ organization, on issues related to housing and mental health services for the community they serve. This partnership has been recognized with the Community Partnership Award from the Stonewall Convention and Queer Cultural Awards in 2022.

Nonprofit partners have played an important role in developing, designing, guiding, and implementing the research. They have contributed to shaping and implementing the framework, participated in an advisory team that is guiding and steering the research, and supported outreach to survivors/victims as well as other community-based organizations for engagement and dissemination.

Sustainable Human Empowerment Associates (SHE) consults on the project to support focus groups, analysis, and writing. SHE has over 15 years of experience in project design, management, participatory action research, and policy making.
SHE Associates, Righting Relations Canada, and RARICANow! are part of the advisory team.