The 5th International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2026(ISEGBV26)

The 5th International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2026- (ISEGBV2026)

Theme: From Commitment to Action: Global Pathways to Ending Gender-Based Violence

Dates: 27–28 November 2026

Location: Toronto Hilton Hotel, Toronto, Canada

Hosted by: The Centre for Social Justice Initiatives (TCSJI)

Event Overview

The International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2026 is a global convening and the fifth edition of this international gathering, bringing together survivors, advocates, policymakers, researchers, frontline practitioners, educators, and community leaders from around the world to advance practical, survivor-centered solutions to gender-based violence.

Building on the impact and momentum of the previous four convenings, including the 2025 Summit, the 2026 gathering moves beyond awareness and dialogue to focus on implementation, accountability, and systems change. The Summit will examine how global commitments, national policies, and community-based practices can be translated into measurable, sustained action at local, national, and international levels.

Held during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Summit provides a platform for bold conversations, cross-sector collaboration, and global solidarity, while centering survivor dignity, prevention, and institutional responsibility. Through plenaries, panels, practice-based sessions, and skill-building workshops, participants will engage with evidence-informed strategies and collective pathways toward ending gender-based violence.

As its fifth convening, the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence continues to strengthen global partnerships, deepen accountability, and support long-term change well beyond the Summit itself.

2. Summit Objectives

The 2026 Summit aims to:

1. Center Survivor Voices

o Elevate lived experience as expertise

o Promote trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and intersectional approaches

2. Strengthen Prevention & Early Intervention

o Address harmful gender norms and power structures

o Highlight education-based and community-led prevention models

3. Bridge Research, Policy & Practice

o Share evidence-based programs, evaluations, and promising practices

o Strengthen collaboration across sectors

4. Advance Justice & Accountability

o Examine legal, policing, immigration, child welfare, and social systems

o Identify reforms that improve survivor safety and access to justice

5. Mobilize Partnerships & Resources

o Connect funders, institutions, and grassroots organizations

o Support sustainable, scalable GBV responses

3. Who Should Attend

The Summit welcomes participants from Canada and around the world, including:

· Survivors and survivor-led organizations

· Gender-based violence advocates and service providers

· Social workers, counselors, and frontline practitioners

· Policymakers and government officials

· Law enforcement and justice-sector professionals

· Academics, researchers, and students

· Educators and community development practitioners

· Health and public health professionals

· Indigenous, racialized, and diaspora community leaders

· Youth leaders and men & boys engagement practitioners

· Media professionals and storytellers

· Corporate leaders and CSR professionals

4. Why Attend

By attending the 2026 Summit, participants will:

· Gain practical tools and evidence-based strategies

· Learn directly from survivors and global experts

· Build cross-sector and international partnerships

· Influence policy and program development

· Contribute to collective action to end GBV

This is not just a conference — it is a movement for accountability, justice, and change.

5. Call for Speakers (Website / Submission Portal Text)

Call for Speakers – Now Open

The Centre for Social Justice Initiatives invites local, national, and international speakers to submit proposals for the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2026.

We welcome proposals for:

· Keynote presentations

· Panel discussions

· Research and academic presentations

· Practice-based case studies

· Survivor-led sessions

· Workshops and skills-building sessions

Priority Themes Include:

· Survivor-centered and trauma-informed care

· Prevention through education and community engagement

· Engaging men and boys as allies and survivors

· Technology-facilitated violence and online safety

· GBV and migration, refugee, and immigration systems

· Indigenous, racialized, and culturally specific responses

· Human trafficking and exploitation

· Economic empowerment and GBV

· Policy reform, accountability, and justice systems

· Global South and diaspora-led initiatives

We strongly encourage submissions from survivors, grassroots organizations, and underrepresented voices.

5. Call for Sponsors & Partners

Partner With Impact

The International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2026 offers sponsors and partners a meaningful opportunity to support gender justice, survivor leadership, and global action.

Why Sponsor?

· Align your organization with a respected international GBV platform

· Demonstrate leadership in equity, inclusion, and human rights

· Engage directly with decision-makers, practitioners, and advocates

· Support survivor participation through scholarships

· Gain visibility across Summit materials, media, and digital platforms

Sponsorship Opportunities Include:

· Title & Presenting Sponsor

· Session & Panel Sponsor

· Survivor & Grassroots Scholarship Sponsor

· Exhibition & Resource Booths

· Media & Digital Visibility Packages

Customized sponsorship packages available upon request.

6.Tentative Program for The International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2026

Theme: From Global Commitments to Local Action

Dates: Day 1 & Day 2

Location: Hilton Toronto, Canada

Welcome Message

Gender-based violence remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide. Despite global commitments, survivors continue to face systemic barriers to safety, justice, and healing.

The International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence will brings together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, advocates, and community leaders from across the world to strengthen survivor-centered responses, advance prevention, and build accountable systems that end violence in all its forms.

This Summit is designed as a policy-to-practice convening, creating space for dialogue, learning, skill-building, and concrete commitments to action.

DAY 1 – Global Context, Systems & Accountability

Focus: Understanding GBV as a global issue, strengthening institutional accountability, and centering survivor dignity within systems.

Opening Ceremony & Global Keynote

9:00 – 10:15 AM

Session Overview

The Opening Ceremony sets the tone for the Summit by situating gender-based violence within global human rights, public health, and development frameworks.

Key Themes

· GBV as a global human rights crisis

· Economic and social costs of inaction

· The urgency of coordinated global responses

Global & National Policy Panels

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Session Overview

This panel examines how international commitments translate into national laws, policies, and implementation — and where gaps persist.

Key Topics

· International conventions and national GBV strategies

· Policy implementation challenges

· Funding, enforcement, and accountability

· GBV in contexts of migration, conflict, and inequality

Survivor-Centered Practice Sessions

1:00 – 2:30 PM

Session Overview

This session focuses on ethical, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered approaches to service delivery and systems design.

Key Topics

· Trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice

· Survivor autonomy and choice

· Ethical engagement and confidentiality

· Survivor leadership in program design

Justice, Policing & Institutional Accountability Panels

2:45 – 4:15 PM

Session Overview

This panel critically examines justice system responses to GBV and explores models for accountability and reform.

Key Topics

· Police and court responses to GBV

· Barriers to reporting and prosecution

· Institutional bias and survivor trust

· Legal reform and oversight mechanisms

Networking Reception

4:30 – 6:00 PM

An opportunity for participants to connect, share experiences, and build cross-sector partnerships in an informal setting.

DAY 2 – Prevention, Practice & Pathways Forward

Focus: Prevention strategies, education, applied learning, and collective action.

Prevention & Education Plenary

9:00 – 10:15 AM

Session Overview

This plenary highlights, prevention as a critical pillar in ending gender-based violence.

Key Topics

· Primary prevention approaches

· Education across the lifespan

· Community-led prevention strategies

· Addressing root causes of violence

Men, Boys & Masculinities Panels

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Session Overview

This panel explores the role of men and boys in preventing GBV while maintaining survivor-centered accountability.

Key Topics

· Socialization and masculinity

· Accountability and allyship

· Community-based engagement models

· Effective prevention programs

Research-to-Practice Sessions

1:00 – 2:30 PM

Session Overview

Bridging research, lived experience, and frontline practice.

Key Topics

· Evidence-based interventions

· Translating research into policy and programs

· Monitoring, evaluation, and learning

· Ethical and survivor-informed research

Workshops & Skill-Building Labs

2:45 – 4:15 PM

Session Overview

Interactive, practice-focused sessions designed to provide participants with tools they can apply immediately.

Workshop Themes May Include

· Trauma-informed facilitation

· Organizational GBV policies

· Community education program design

· Advocacy and systems change strategies

· Data, ethics, and evaluation

Closing Plenary – Commitments to Action

4:30 – 5:30 PM

Session Overview

The Summit concludes by moving from dialogue to action.

Key Components

· Reflections from key speakers

· Summary of key insights

· Participant commitments to action

· Call for continued collaboration

Summit Outcomes

Participants will:

· Deepen understanding of GBV as a global and local issue

· Strengthen cross-sector collaboration

· Gain practical tools for prevention and response

· Leave with clear commitments to action

This is the summary of what happened at the just concluded 4th Summit of Ending Gender Based Violence held at Hilton Toronto Hotel from the 28th to 29th November 2025 hosted by the Centre for Social Justice Initiatives

Session 1:

At the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025, Victim Services of Peel and the Peel Regional Police VICE/Human Trafficking Unit jointly presented the evaluation findings of Project This Way Out—a groundbreaking anti-human trafficking partnership funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).
The presentation highlighted the development and implementation of the HALT Model (Helping Alliance with Law Enforcement and Trafficking)—a fully integrated response model designed to strengthen immediate support for survivors of human trafficking. Through this model, three specialized Anti-Human Trafficking Crisis Intervention Counsellors from Victim Services of Peel are embedded directly within the Peel Regional Police VICE Unit, allowing for seamless collaboration during active investigations and police-led responses.
Key insights presented included:
• Promising practices from a police–victim services embedded partnership
• Enhanced survivor outcomes due to rapid crisis response and trauma-informed intervention
• Lessons learned from multi-sector coordination between counsellors and police officers
• Successes and measurable impacts of the HALT model on safety, navigation, and case management
• A real case scenario demonstrating how immediate, integrated intervention strengthens survivor trust and stabilization
• Broader system benefits, including improved communication, safety planning, and sector-wide GBV response capacity
Co-Presenters:
• Mackenzie Arruda — Anti-Human Trafficking Counsellor, Victim Services of Peel
• Raya Schwets — Anti-Human Trafficking Counsellor, Victim Services of Peel
• Laura Wells — Officer, Peel Regional Police VICE/Human Trafficking Unit
Their session demonstrated how survivor-centered practice, when paired with law enforcement collaboration, can transform response systems and advance Canada’s efforts to end gender-based violence and human trafficking.

Session 2
One of the day’s most thought-provoking sessions was delivered by Athena Hantzaridis, M.A., a global development practitioner and gender-based violence specialist whose work spans both national and international contexts.
Her presentation — “Not Just Women and Girls: The Impact of the Gender Binary Distinction on Male Gender-Based Violence in the Balkan Context” — challenged us to confront a difficult but necessary truth:

· Survivors of gender-based violence exist across all gender identities, yet our systems often fail to recognize or support them equally.

Key Takeaways from the Presentation

· Gender-based violence affects all genders
GBV is not confined to one demographic; trauma is universal, but recognition and resources are not.

· Male survivors remain largely invisible
Stigma, hegemonic masculinity, rape myths, and homophobia silence male survivors and create barriers to reporting and healing.

· The Balkan case study exposes systemic gaps
Using the former Yugoslavia as a lens, Athena highlighted underreporting, institutional failures, medical bias, and the limited legal scope of sexual violence definitions.

· Research and policy frameworks are still gender-binary and exclusionary
When research focuses only on the “majority” of victims, whole groups are erased — hindering prevention, treatment, and justice.

· Media narratives reinforce silence
Efforts to preserve national reputation often come at the expense of male survivors whose stories remain untold.

Moving Forward: What Athena Urges Us to Reimagine

· Reframe vulnerability as gender-neutral Expand survivor-centered, gender-sensitive approaches

· Strengthen institutional and legal support for all survivor

· Challenge patriarchal and binary assumptions that erase male victimization

· Ensure research includes those historically left out
Her call to action was clear: we cannot dismantle gender-based violence while upholding systems that exclude certain survivors.

About the Presenter: Athena Hantzaridis, M.A.
Athena is a global development practitioner with six years of NGO experience focused on data-driven social change and GBV prevention. She currently serves as Senior Specialist for Donor Data and Research at WhyHunger (NYC), integrating justice-oriented research with program management to advance community-led solutions to hunger and structural inequity.
She holds:
• B.A. in International Relations (Boston University)
• M.A. in Politics & Economics (University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki)
Athena’s frontline experience includes teaching at the Irida Women’s Center in Greece, supporting diverse GBV survivors facing economic and social isolation. Her research examines how gender-binary systems intensify humanitarian crises and limit effective GBV prevention globally.
Her approach is grounded in intersectionality, evidence-based practice, and deep commitment to survivor dignity and transformative justice.

Final Reflection
Ending gender-based violence requires that we broaden our lens, challenge assumptions, and build systems that support every survivor — not just those who fit traditional narratives.
Athena’s presentation was a powerful reminder of the work still ahead, and the importance of centering inclusivity, nuance, and justice in all our efforts.

Session 3

At the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025, we were proud to host an outstanding and deeply innovative presentation by Veen Wong, PhD Candidate in Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. Her presentation introduced Bold Sky—a groundbreaking digital game designed to prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) by engaging young men through a gender-transformative, co-design approach.
Bold Sky is being developed collaboratively with:
• Young men (ages 18–25)
• Game developers
• Behaviour architects
• Public health experts
• IPV specialists
• Engagement and design professionals
Veen emphasized the urgent need for early intervention with young men, noting that:
• 80% of IPV perpetrators in Canada are men
• Violence peaks between ages 25–34
• Young men often face barriers to traditional programs
• Primary prevention remains a major gap in our current response systems
To address these gaps, Bold Sky uses digital gaming as a powerful educational tool.
Games provide a safe, immersive space where young men can explore emotional responses, conflict, and relational choices without stigma or judgment. Through branching storylines and interactive narratives, players encounter realistic scenarios involving coercive control, red flags, social pressure, and every day “moments of choice” that shape relationships.
The presentation walked us through the multi-phase co-design process:
Phase 1 – Advisory Committee Co-Design
A diverse team of 10 experts supported narrative development, trauma-informed approaches, and game mechanics.
Phase 2 – Co-Design With Young Men (Current Stage)
Semi-structured interviews and storyboarding sessions help identify authentic experiences, challenges, and decision-making moments faced by young men.
Phase 3 – Iterative Prototype Development
Scenarios and characters are refined, tested, and evaluated using gender-transformative criteria to ensure relevance, emotional resonance, and safety.
Next Steps – Evaluation & Scale-Up
Once complete, Bold Sky aims to deploy the game across Ontario, contributing a scalable and evidence-based tool for preventing IPV.
Veen’s work demonstrates how creativity, technology, and community-led design can create new pathways for violence prevention. It is an inspiring example of youth engagement, innovation, and the future of GBV prevention.
We extend our deep appreciation to Veen Wong and the entire Bold Sky research team for their remarkable contribution to this year’s summit.

Session 4:

At the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025, we were honoured to host Tod Augusta Scott, one of Canada’s leading practitioners in narrative therapy, restorative justice, and trauma-informed GBV intervention.
His keynote/workshop, “Safety and Repair: A 3-Phase Approach to Address Gender-Based Violence,” offered one of the most impactful frameworks of the summit.
The 3 Phases of Safety & Repair:
1. Safety – establishing physical and emotional safety, defining abuse, and clarifying responsibility.
2. Preparing – supporting both the harmed person and the person who caused harm to understand trauma, gendered dynamics, and what repair truly requires.
3. Practicing – repairing harm in ways that do not create further harm, guided entirely by the needs and boundaries of the person who was hurt.
The Workshop Emphasized:
• Accountability that is practical, not symbolic
• Cantering the voice and self-defined needs of survivors
• Repair as a structured, trauma-aware process—not reconciliation or forced dialogue
• Respecting distance while still enabling safety, validation, and concrete change
Tod’s example using the documentary A Better Man illustrated how structured accountability can transform understanding, responsibility, and healing.
This session was a powerful reminder that ending GBV requires approaches that honour survivors, challenge harmful gender norms, and demand meaningful accountability.
Thank you, Tod, for contributing such depth, clarity, and compassion to our global conversation.
#EndingGBV #SafetyAndRepair #InternationalSummit2025 #RestorativePractice #TraumaInformed #CommunityHealing #NarrativeTherapy

Session 5

At the 4th International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025 we. had a critical and deeply necessary conversation led by LeRon L. Barton—writer, author, and international speaker whose work sheds light on race, masculinity, trauma, and the lived experiences of Black communities.
LeRon’s session, “The Minimizing of Sexual Assault of Black Boys,” challenged us to confront a topic that is too often ignored:

· The sexual victimization of Black men and boys

· The stereotypes that strip Black boys of innocence

· How hyper sexualization and historical narratives erase their victimhood

· The long-term impacts—depression, distorted intimacy, substance use, and silence

· The urgent need to recognize Black men and boys as survivors deserving protection, justice, and healing
His message was clear: we cannot end gender-based violence without addressing the full spectrum of who is harmed.
During the 16 Days of Activism on Ending GBV, this conversation sets the tone for a summit committed to truth, accountability, and transformative change.
Grateful to LeRon for opening our summit with courage, clarity, and unwavering advocacy for Black male survivors.
#EndingGBV2025 #GenderBasedViolence #BlackBoysMatter #SurvivorAdvocacy #TraumaInformed #CSJI #InternationalSummit

At the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025, we had the privilege of hearing from Dr. Catrina Brown and Dr. Ellyse Winter, who presented a groundbreaking study on reducing barriers to family-violence services for men in rural and remote communities across Atlantic Canada. Their work sheds light on a critical gap in GBV prevention: the limited availability of services for men who use harm and men who have experienced harm.
Their study revealed that family violence rates are rising in rural and remote regions, while services remain extremely scarce. Long travel distances, lack of transportation, waitlists, childcare barriers, stigma, and social isolation make accessing support nearly impossible for many. Services are often reactive and focused almost exclusively on women and children — leaving a significant gap in effective interventions for men.
A key finding of the research is the effectiveness of virtual programming. Online group programs reduced major barriers such as travel, cost, time, work conflict, and childcare. Participants reported that virtual sessions increased privacy, safety, confidentiality, emotional openness, and willingness to engage. Many men said they felt less judged and more able to participate honestly online than in person.
Their 10-week virtual group intervention demonstrated:

· Increased emotional awareness and empathy

· Greater recognition of harmful behaviours

· Stronger peer support through shared experiences

· Reduced shame, stigma, and fear of disclosure

· Better access for rural men who otherwise have no services
However, challenges remain. Providers emphasized the need for:
– More funding
– More trained staff
– Male-focused programs
– Wraparound supports
– Cultural safety
– Access to technology
– Sustainable long-term investment
The study also highlighted that over 80% of the men who used harm had themselves experienced violence, often as children — reinforcing the need for trauma-informed, accountable approaches that address both responsibility and histories of disadvantage.
Their work underscores a powerful truth:
We cannot end gender-based violence without expanding accessible, equitable, and trauma-informed services for all — including men in rural and remote regions.
Deep appreciation to Dr. Catrina Brown & Dr. Ellyse Winter for bringing evidence-based insights, compassion, and courage to this crucial conversation.
#EndGBV #RuralCommunities #VirtualProgramming #TraumaInformedCare #ViolencePrevention #GBVSummit2025

Session 6

At the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025, we were deeply honoured to hear from Hon. Mrs. Ngozi Enih, Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Enugu State, Nigeria. Her presentation on Institutionalizing Legal and Policy Reform to Address GBV was one of the most comprehensive and inspiring contributions of the Summit.
She began by grounding her message in the painful reality:

· Nearly 1 in 3 women globally experience violence

· 63% of Nigerians have experienced or know someone affected by GBV
Her presentation walked us through the Enugu Gender Policy Project—a bold, community-driven effort to eradicate GBV and transform harmful traditional practices by shifting power, practices, and accountability at the grassroots level.

Key Findings from Their Statewide Public Hearings
Through public hearings in all 17 Local Government Areas, and a structured survey with 725 participants, they uncovered:

· Low public awareness of protective laws

· Widely practiced harmful norms

· Barriers to reporting & seeking help

· Limited support services

· Women excluded from leadership and decision-making
But also:

· Strong community readiness for change

· Why Public Hearings Were Transformative
The Enugu team used public hearings to:

· Amplify marginalized voices, especially survivors

· Generate credible, community-rooted data

· Build trust between government, communities, and civil society

· Bring harmful practices into the open, where they can be challenged

Local Impact
From 2017 to 2025, the Enugu Sexual Assault Referral Centre supported nearly 1,500 survivors.

Survivor demographics show:

· Majority are women and girls

· Over one-third are children

· Persons with disabilities are significantly affected
This data reinforces the urgency for stronger systems of protection.

Policy Implications
Mrs. Enih highlighted a critical point:

· Laws alone are not enough.
Without implementation, accountability, and community ownership, legislation cannot save lives.
Therefore, their Gender Policy includes a Gender Equality Scorecard, measuring:
• Awareness
• Support services
• GBV integration in schools/health
• Women’s representation
• Reduction of harmful practices

Next Steps for Enugu State
Her team is advancing:

· Stakeholder Engagement – leaders, professionals, survivors

· Policy Drafting aligned with VAPP & national laws

· Capacity Building – training police, judges, healthcare workers

Monitoring & Evaluation – tracking annual progress through the scorecard

Lessons for the Global Community
From her powerful work, the world can learn:

· Ground reforms in local realities

· Create platforms for survivors’ voices

· Embed accountability into implementation

· Build broad coalitions across sectors

Session 7

At the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025, we were honoured to hear from Ngozi Iwere, Executive Director of the Community Life Project (CLP) in Nigeria, who delivered an extraordinary session on Engaging Men and Boys for GBV Prevention in Enugu and Imo States.
Her work, rooted in 33 years of community-led development, shows that preventing gender-based violence requires engaging the very people who hold influence in cultural and social structures — men, boys, traditional leaders, youth leaders, and community gatekeepers.

Why Men and Boys Matter
Ngozi emphasized that harmful gender norms — male privilege, emotional suppression, son preference, and dominance — are major drivers of GBV. Engaging men is not optional; it is essential for reshaping community values.
Men speak to men. Boys learn from boys. Cultural change happens through peers.
What CLP Did
Her team facilitated community dialogues with:
• Town Union leaders
• Male Youth Leaders
• Traditional authorities (Ezes/Igwes)
• Age-grade unions
These dialogues created space to:
• Question harmful traditions
• Reflect on masculinity, femininity, and power
• Explore the pressures men face to dominate or suppress emotions
• Discuss son preference, inheritance bias, and violence
CLP reached:

· 136 Town Union leaders

· 231 Male Youth Leaders
across 17 communities.

· Voices from the Community
Participants themselves began naming the change:
• “Healthy, just families start with reforming old mentalities.”
• “Every child is equal.”
• “A man beating his wife is like beating himself.”

· Key Outcomes
• Men and youth acknowledging the harm of rigid masculinity
• Leaders rethinking son preference
• Youth challenging “old mentality”
• Town leaders committing to reforms
• Traditional gatekeepers questioning norms for the first time

· Community-wide Engagement
The work included partnership with:
• Umuada/Ndiyom (women leaders)
• Persons with disabilities organizations
• Traditional leaders supporting long-term reforms
Conclusion
Ngozi showed how homegrown, peer-led approaches reshape values so that:
• Families embody justice
• Daughters are valued equally
• Boys learn empathy, respect, and restraint
Her message was powerful:
Together, we are laying a new foundation for communities free from gender-based violence.
#EndGBV #GenderEquality #CommunityLeadership #Nigeria #MenAndBoysEngagement #GBVSummit2025

Session 8:

At the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025, we were privileged to welcome the SPHÈRES Program team from SPHÈRES Program team from Quebec. Their presentation brought powerful insights into a coordinated, trauma-informed, and humanistic approach to ending the sexual exploitation of youth.
Presenters:

1. Charline Côté – Project Manager ,Institut Universitaire jeunes en difficulté

2. Mélissandre Gagnon Lemieux – Coordinator, SPHÈRES

3. Sasha Topilova – SPHÈRES Intervention Worker

What the SPHÈRES Program Does
SPHÈRES is a specialized, long-term support program for young people aged 12 to 24 who are experiencing or have experienced sexual exploitation. Developed through collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and community partners, the program addresses gaps that traditional services often overlook.
Their approach recognizes that:

· Youth experiencing exploitation do not always self-identify as victims

· Some of them may perceive “benefits.,” complicating disclosure

· Exploitation often involves cycles of back-and-forth involvement

· Healing requires relationship-based, voluntary, consistent support

· Clinical & Trauma-Informed Approaches
SPHÈRES integrates multiple evidence-based practices, including:
1. Humanistic approach (empathy, self-determination, positive regard)

2. Trauma-informed care (safe space, understanding trauma’s impact)

3. Motivational interviewing (supporting ambivalence and choice)

4. Harm reduction

5. Transtheoretical Model of Change

6. Relapse prevention strategies
Their team provides opportunities for young people to rebuild identity, regain a sense of power, and develop autonomy toward positive, lasting change.

· Coordinated & Integrated Action
A unique strength of SPHÈRES is its collaborative network of six institutional and community partners. Together, they offer:

· Psychosocial follow-up

· Cultural, athletic, and educational activities

· Clinical support

· Referrals to specialized services

· Flexible, individualized, voluntary long-term engagement
The result: a holistic, community-embedded system that meets youth exactly where they are, without judgment

A Powerful Contribution to Our Summit
The SPHÈRES team reminded us that ending sexual exploitation requires compassion, coordination, and systems that honour youth voices and experiences. Their work is reshaping how we understand exploitation and how we build pathways to healing.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the presenters for sharing such essential and impactful knowledge.
#EndGBV #SpheresProgram #YouthSupport #SexualExploitation #TraumaInformedCare #GBVSummit2025 #HumanisticApproach #ChildProtection

Session 9:

Brain Injury Canada at the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025
At the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025, we had the privilege of hosting Brain Injury Canada and the Canadian Centre for IPV–BI, who delivered a deeply important session on the hidden intersection between intimate partner violence (IPV) and brain injury (BI). Their presentation brought awareness to an urgent but often overlooked reality: brain injuries are one of the most common, least recognized, and least treated consequences of gender-based violence.
Key Insights from the Presentation

· Brain Injury Is a Hidden Outcome of IPV
Up to 68% of women in abusive relationships experience brain injury—not only from blows to the head but also from strangulation, which cuts off oxygen to the brain and can result in lasting neurological damage.

· Survivors Often Do Not Seek Medical Help
Many survivors do not recognize the signs of brain injury or avoid medical care due to fear, stigma, or lack of awareness. Some do not recall the injury at all — especially when they lose consciousness.

· Frontline Workers Are Not Equipped to Screen for TBI
Pilot research across Toronto showed that most healthcare and social service providers cannot identify symptoms of traumatic brain injury, do not routinely ask about it, and often do not provide referrals. Survivors and service providers both lack critical knowledge about BI.

· The Court System Is Unprepared
Survivors navigating the legal system may struggle with memory, concentration, or emotional regulation due to brain injury. This is frequently misinterpreted as non-compliance or dishonesty. Meanwhile, defence lawyers may exploit cognitive struggles to weaken a survivor’s credibility.

· Indigenous Women and Rural Survivors Are at Higher Risk
A 2019 study found severe gaps in knowledge among service providers working with Indigenous women experiencing IPV. There is an urgent need for culturally grounded, community-based supports for brain injury survivors in these regions.

· Staggering Underreporting
IPV is already underreported — and brain injury within IPV is even less visible. Collecting accurate data is a major challenge, which means the true scale of harm is almost certainly higher.
⸻
Tools and National Efforts Showcased
The presenters highlighted several groundbreaking initiatives:
1. Abused & Brain Injured Toolkit (abitoolkit.ca) — resources for survivors, service providers, and communities

2. SOAR (Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury Through Research) — the first project of its kind in Canada

3. Canadian Centre for IPV–BI — providing national education, research, and survivor-centered resources

4. IPV–BI Systems of Care Framework — guiding coordinated, multisectoral response

5. Public education, outreach, and training programs across healthcare, justice, and social service sectors

6. They also emphasized the push for national policy change, including:

· Adding TBI screening for IPV survivors to Canada’s National Action Plan

· Federal advocacy for Bill C-206, a national strategy on brain injury

· Building trauma-informed, culturally relevant, survivor-led services across Canada

A Survivor Testimony Shared
One quote that grounded the entire session:
“I was never offered a medical assessment of any kind after reporting intimate partner violence to the police. My physical wellbeing was never considered because visually I looked ‘ok’.”
— IPV Survivor
These underscores how often brain injuries go unseen — and therefore untreated.

Why This Matters
The link between IPV and brain injury is a public health issue, a justice issue, and a human rights issue. Without recognizing BI, we risk misjudging survivors, failing to support them, and missing opportunities for healing and safety.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Brain Injury Canada, Emma Chiera, Amy Moore, and all the researchers and community partners working tirelessly to shed light on this critical issue.
Together, we are redefining safety, care, and justice for survivors.
#EndGBV #IPVBI #BrainInjuryCanada #TraumaInformedCare #GBVSummit2025 #ViolencePrevention #CommunityDevelopment #SurvivorCentered

Post-Summit Reflection from the CEO, Centre for Social Justice Initiatives
As we closed the International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2025, I was deeply moved by the courage, honesty, and global solidarity that shaped these two powerful days. Leaders, survivors, researchers, and advocates from across continents came together to confront the realities of gender-based violence — and to chart real pathways forward.
Our closing plenary highlighted several essential truths:
1. Engaging Boys & Men
Men must be part of the solution — not only as allies and advocates, but also as survivors whose stories are too often minimized. Early engagement with young men, including innovative tools like the Bold Sky co-design project, creates space for empathy, accountability, and healthier masculinities.
2. Prevention Through Education
Prevention is a cultural shift. Teaching consent, respect, emotional literacy, and challenging harmful norms must begin long before harm occurs — in schools, homes, communities, and digital spaces.
3. Survivor-Centered, Trauma-Informed Systems
Survivors continue to face barriers to safety and justice. We reaffirmed the need for trauma-informed responses, safe housing, accessible mental health care, and systems shaped by those with lived experience.
4. Real Accountability in Policy & Law
Across countries, the gap between legislation and lived experience remains wide. True progress requires enforcement, funding, and meaningful access to justice for marginalized communities.
5. Technology, Innovation & Data
From co-designed youth interventions to digital reporting tools, technology is reshaping the GBV landscape. But innovation must remain ethical, survivor-centered, and grounded in humanity.
6. Community, Culture & Global Solidarity
Indigenous knowledge, Africentric approaches, feminist organizing, newcomer experiences, and grassroots leadership remind us that community saves lives. Ending GBV requires global learning — and local wisdom.
I also made a call for partnerships and sustainable funding. Many survivors and frontline workers cannot self-fund travel, accommodation, or time away from work. Their expertise should be honoured and supported, not carried as an unpaid burden.
As TCSJI, we invite organizations, donors, institutions, and allies to partner with us so we can expand access, equity, and representation at future summits.
To our speakers and presenters: thank you for sharing your lived experience and expertise — often without compensation — because the mission matters.
To our delegates: thank you for investing your resources and your hearts into this gathering.
This summit exists because community made it possible.
And the pathway forward is one we must walk together — with courage, compassion, and collective commitment.
The work continues. And it continues now.
— Doreen Kajumba, CEO & Founder, The Centre for Social Justice Initiatives (TCSJI)

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