In a spirit of community collaboration and service, the GBV Public Education Network (PEN) brings together organizations involved in the development, coordination, delivery, and support of gender-based violence (GBV) education and prevention in Waterloo Region. This includes all forms of GBV, such as domestic and intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and sex trafficking.

The PEN is part of Waterloo Region’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Strategy and works to strengthen coordinated, consistent, and evidence-informed education and prevention efforts across the region. The committee does not replace or override the education mandates of individual agencies; rather, it aims to coordinate, support, partner, refer, and identify gaps in community education efforts.

The PEN will:

• Support – but not replicate or replace – individual agencies’ public education mandates.
• Strengthen coordination and collaboration among organizations delivering or supporting GBV education.
• Facilitate partnerships, referrals, and shared approaches where appropriate.
• Identify gaps in GBV education, training, and community awareness.
• Promote shared language, consistent messaging, and evidence-informed prevention.
• Surface emerging issues and trends impacting educational work across all forms of GBV.
• Support culturally responsive, accessible, survivor-centred, and trauma-informed education.
• Share information, resources, promising practices, and professional development opportunities.
• Amplify and promote member organizations’ education and prevention programs.
• Support and coordinate community awareness campaigns.
• Provide networking, mutual support, and capacity-building opportunities.