01
Prevent
Strengthen community knowledge, prevention strategies, healthy relationships, positive masculinity and approaches that address the root causes of GBV.
From Vulnerability to Safety, Healing and Change
From Vulnerability to Safety, Healing and Change
Gender-based violence is a global human rights issue—but its risks, impacts and pathways to safety are shaped by people's social, economic and migration circumstances.
For refugees, asylum seekers and newcomers, experiences of violence may intersect with forced displacement, precarious immigration circumstances, housing insecurity, poverty, unemployment, racism and discrimination, social isolation, mental-health challenges and barriers to accessing appropriate services.
Voices for Change 2026 will bring together people with lived and living experience, refugee and newcomer communities, community organizations, service providers, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, advocates and humanitarian actors. Two days of learning, dialogue, knowledge exchange and collective action
Why Voices for Change?
Why This Conference Matters
02
Support
Improve awareness of culturally responsive, survivor-centred and trauma- and violence-informed services, resources and referral pathways.
03
Connect
Build stronger relationships among communities, survivors, frontline organizations, researchers, service providers, governments and humanitarian actors.
04
Change
Move lived experience and frontline knowledge into conversations about programs, systems, policy and sustainable solutions.
Explore the Conference Themes
Six connected conversations
GBV, Human Trafficking & Forced Displacement
Exploring violence and exploitation across displacement, migration, asylum, settlement and humanitarian contexts.
Housing, Poverty, Employment & Economic Security
Examining how housing insecurity, poverty, economic abuse, employment and financial independence intersect with safety.
Survivor-Centred Support, Mental Health, Healing & Resilience
Exploring culturally responsive, trauma- and violence-informed approaches to support, healing, recovery and resilience.
Intersectionality, Equity & Access to Justice
Examining how race, gender, sexuality, immigration status, disability and socioeconomic inequality shape experiences of violence and access to support and justice.
Prevention, Positive Masculinity & Community Transformation
Strengthening prevention, healthy relationships, community education and the engagement of men and boys as allies in ending GBV.
From Local Action to Global Humanitarian Response
Connecting community practice, systems change, policy, research and collaboration from the GTA and Canada to the global humanitarian context.
Participate in Voices for Change
There Are Many Ways to Be Part of Voices for Change
Join the Conference
Participate in two days of learning, dialogue, networking and community connection—in person or virtually.
- Refugees & Newcomers — $25
- Other Canada-Based Participants — $50
- International Participants — $350
Help Shape the Conference
Submit a session, research or practice abstract, interactive workshop, panel, poster, community conversation or creative presentation.
Submission deadline: October 16, 2026
Submit a Proposal →Showcase Your Resources
Join the Community Resource & Connections Hub to showcase programs, services and resources and build partnerships and referral networks.
Exhibitor fee: $200
Register by: November 20, 2026
Voices for Change Community Resource & Connections Hub
Hope for Refugees International invites community organizations, service providers, nonprofits, grassroots organizations, public institutions, academic institutions, social enterprises and other partners to participate as exhibitors in the Voices for Change Conference Community Resource & Connections Hub.
The Hub will be an interactive space within the conference where organizations can showcase their work, programs, services, resources and initiatives; connect with community members and other service providers; build partnerships and referral networks; and help participants identify resources and supports available to survivors, refugees, newcomers and communities affected by gender-based violence and human trafficking.
We particularly welcome organizations working in areas such as women’s rights, gender-based violence, human trafficking, refugee and newcomer settlement, housing and homelessness, mental health and healthcare, legal and immigration services, employment and economic empowerment, 2SLGBTQI+ services, women's services, education and academia, youth and family supports, community safety, survivor support and other related areas.
Registration
Exhibitor Registration Opens: September 24, 2026
Registration Deadline: November 20, 2026
Exhibitor Fee: $200
The exhibitor registration fee includes:
- One exhibition table
- Two chairs
- Space within the Community Resource & Connections Hub
Important: The $200 exhibitor fee does not include conference participant registration. Anyone who wishes to attend conference sessions must register separately for the conference.
Exhibitor spaces are confirmed only after payment has been received. Space is limited, and registration may close earlier if all available spaces are filled.
Selected exhibitors will receive additional information regarding setup and breakdown times, arrival instructions, exhibition guidelines and other conference logistics.
Join the Community Resource & Connections Hub
Help us create a space where conference participants can move beyond conversations about challenges and connect directly with resources, services, organizations and people working toward solutions.
Register by November 20, 2026.
Payment Options
E-transfer
info@hopeforrefugees.org
Cheque
Payable to: Hope for Refugees International
Direct Bank Deposit
Account Name: Hope for Refugees International
Account Number: 06722-1068493
Bank Name: Royal Bank of Canada
Branch: Yonge and Orchard View
Address: 2346 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4P 2W7
Transit Number: 06722
Institution Number: 003
One Conference. Many Perspectives.
Who Should Attend?
Refugees & NewcomersPeople with Lived & Living ExperienceGBV & Anti-Trafficking OrganizationsGrassroots & Community OrganizationsSettlement OrganizationsWomen's Organizations2SLGBTQI+ Communities & OrganizationsSocial Workers & CounsellorsHealthcare & Mental-Health ProfessionalsHousing & Homelessness OrganizationsLegal & Justice ProfessionalsResearchers & AcademicsStudentsEmployment & Economic-Empowerment OrganizationsGovernment & PolicymakersInternational & Humanitarian PractitionersCommunity & Faith LeadersAdvocates & Allies
Whether you bring lived experience, community knowledge, frontline practice, research, policy expertise, creativity or advocacy, there is a place for your voice at Voices for Change.
Conference Experience
What to Expect
Keynotes & Plenary ConversationsConcurrent SessionsInteractive WorkshopsPanel DiscussionsCommunity ConversationsResearch & Practice AbstractsPoster & Oral PresentationsCreative PresentationsCommunity Resource & Connections HubNetworking & Relationship Building
Full conference program Coming Soon
Community-Informed by Design
A Conference Built With Community
Communities should not only be invited to conferences. They should help shape them.
Through our open Call for Sessions and Presentations, we are creating space for refugees, newcomers, people with lived and living experience, grassroots organizations, practitioners, researchers, advocates and partners to contribute directly to the conference program.
Community knowledge, lived experience, frontline practice, research and creative expression will come together across concurrent sessions, workshops, panels, community conversations, posters and creative presentations.
This is how we move from speaking about communities to creating knowledge with communities.
Answer the CallLocal → National → Global
Locally Grounded. Nationally Relevant. Globally Connected.
Frontline realities, refugee and newcomer experiences, community responses and service systems.
GBV prevention and response, housing, health, social services, economic security and cross-sector collaboration.
National policy, immigration and refugee systems, access to justice, survivor support and systemic change.
Forced displacement, humanitarian protection, migration, trafficking and international approaches to preventing and responding to GBV.
GBV crosses borders. So must our learning, collaboration and solutions.
Registration
Register for Voices for Change 2026
Refugees & Newcomers
$25Subsidized conference registration.
Other Canada-Based Participants
$50Conference registration.
International Participants
$350Conference registration.
Registration provides access to conference sessions and conference materials. For registered in-person participants, registration also includes lunch on both conference days, coffee/tea breaks and conference materials.
Participants are responsible for their own dinners. Participants travelling to Toronto are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, transportation, visa costs and other personal expenses.
Important Dates
Save the Dates
Call for Sessions & Presentations Opens
Exhibitor Registration Opens
Session & Presentation Submission Deadline
Successful Presenters Notified By
Exhibitor Registration Closes
Voices for Change Conference 2026
Partners & Supporters
Building Change Together
Voices for Change is made possible through collaboration with communities, organizations and partners committed to preventing gender-based violence and strengthening support for refugees and newcomers.
Interested in partnering with Voices for Change? Contact us →
November 27–28, 2026 · Toronto + Online
Your Voice Can Help Create Change.
Join refugees, newcomers, survivors, community organizations, practitioners, researchers, advocates and partners for two days of learning, connection and collective action to end gender-based violence and human trafficking.