Standing Committee on the Status of Women

Comité permanent de la condition féminine

For immediate release

Ottawa, December 09, 2025 -

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (the committee) tabled its report entitled “Gender-Based Violence and Femicides in Canada” today.

The report examines systemic and risk factors that contribute to gender-based violence and femicides against women, girls and gender-diverse people in Canada and makes recommendations for improving legal, policy and support frameworks for survivors.

Throughout its study, the committee heard from survivors, women’s and Indigenous women’s organizations, advocates, police and correctional services, legal experts and service providers about the need to address gender-based violence and femicides.

Key considerations outlined in the report include making femicide a separate offence in the Criminal Code; criminalizing coercive control; reforming the legal system, particularly regarding stays of proceedings due to unreasonable delays; improving access to supports for survivors; supporting prevention, education and awareness efforts; rehabilitating perpetrators; and collecting disaggregated data.

In its report, the committee put forward 19 recommendations and made 1 observation to address gender-based violence and femicides and to support survivors.

The report can be consulted on the committee’s web page on the Parliament of Canada website.