Grants and Contributions:

EmpowerMen - Engaging men and boys to prevent sexual exploitation and sex trafficking

GV240181

$583,978.00

Sep 1, 2024 - Aug 31, 2026

Through this 24-month project, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre Inc (Ma Mawi) will develop and implement a promising practice to engage men and boys in preventing sex exploitation and sex trafficking against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. This will be achieved by developing and testing strategies on how to best reach newcomers and youth men and boys; conducting research on the role of online platforms in technology facilitated gender-based violence; and building partnerships with the corporate sector in Manitoba to develop and assess ethical business practices to prevent exploitation amongst employees. The project will engage with key stakeholders and agencies in the police, technology, education, and business sectors as well as with non-profit organizations and survivors to inform the activities and expand networking opportunities to exchange best practices focused on intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking. The project will also be guided by various advisory groups including a survivor’s advisory group; an advisory group of men who are former sex buyers; and a group of Indigenous organizations and service agencies. Ma Mawi will evaluate their activities to measure and assess the project impact as well as to develop reports on the promising practice to be shared with key partners, government agencies and funders in Manitoba so that they may replicate it or expand upon it. Additional funding will be used to increase the impact of the project by expanding the education, awareness and the dissemination of research results activities while also expanding their relationships in the corporate sector to develop promising practices that promote the prevention of sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Women and Gender Equality Canada

Headingley, Manitoba, CA R4H 2B7

001-2024-2025-Q2-00022

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

Increase of agreement value

Jul 23, 2025

Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre

Gender-Based Violence Program

The purpose of the GBV Program is to strengthen the GBV sector to address gaps in supports for two groups of survivors: 1) Indigenous women and their communities, and 2) underserved populations (including women living with a disability, non-status/refugee /immigrant women, LGBTQ2S, gender non-conforming people and ethno-cultural women) in Canada. The Program provides grant and contribution funding to Canadian organizations to improve supports to help create long-term, comprehensive solutions at the national, regional, and local levels.