Key Takeaways
- The federal government is providing up to $472,100 in additional funding to She Matters United.
- The project examines forensic evidence self-collection following sexualized violence in rural, remote and underserved Canadian communities.
- The funding expands community engagement across Ontario, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Manitoba.
Canada Adds $472,100 to Rural Gender-Based Violence Research and Survivor Support Efforts Nationwide
The federal government is providing up to $472,100 in additional funding to She Matters United for a project examining forensic evidence self-collection after sexualized violence in rural, remote and underserved communities. Women and Gender Equality Canada announced the investment on October 1, 2026.
The project, titled Bridging the Gap: Exploring Forensic Evidence Self-Collection for Survivors of Sexualized Violence in Rural Communities, examines whether self-collection approaches could improve access to evidence collection when survivors face geographic or service barriers.
Expanding Access to Forensic Evidence
According to Women and Gender Equality Canada, the initiative will engage victims and survivors, healthcare providers, legal professionals, law enforcement, Indigenous partners and community organizations. Their input will help identify barriers and inform recommendations intended to improve the experience of people seeking support after sexual violence.
The federal government says the project is particularly relevant to rural, remote and underserved communities where access to services can be limited. The additional funding will support expanded in-person community engagement across Ontario, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Manitoba.
The work will also allow research findings to be incorporated into tools, policy frameworks and accountability mechanisms. The project will support implementation of resources for victims and survivors, service providers and communities across Canada.
Building on Earlier Federal Funding
The new investment builds on a previous federal contribution of up to $450,000 for She Matters United's project. The organization was previously funded through Canada's Gender-based Violence Program.
Women and Gender Equality Canada says its Gender-based Violence Program has reached more than 90,000 people since it began in 2018. Funded projects have also created more than 2,200 resources and built or strengthened more than 1,400 partnerships and collaborations.
The department also says the federal government has committed $223.4 million over five years, beginning in 2026-27, including $44.7 million in ongoing funding, to advance federal action on gender-based violence.
Focus on Rural and Underserved Communities
The project addresses a practical challenge in sexual violence response: evidence collection can be time-sensitive, while specialized services may not be available close to where a survivor lives. The federal announcement says the research will explore viable approaches while considering the experiences of survivors and the organizations that support them.
The initiative also aligns with Call for Justice 5.5 from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which calls for equitable access to policing services in northern and remote Indigenous communities.
TwikUp's Perspective
The funding puts the focus on how location can affect access to services following sexual violence. Rather than treating rural access as only a transportation issue, the project brings healthcare, legal, policing, Indigenous and community perspectives into the research process.
For TwikUp, the significant development is the project's practical research focus. Its findings could help inform future tools and policy approaches, although the federal announcement does not establish that forensic self-collection will become a standard national practice. The project is still examining its feasibility and potential application.
What Happens Next
She Matters United will use the additional funding to expand community engagement, continue research and incorporate findings into tools, policy frameworks and accountability mechanisms. The project is intended to inform recommendations and support services for survivors, providers and communities.
The federal announcement was made on October 1, 2026, in Sudbury, Ontario, by Women and Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez alongside Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe.