# Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women

> Canadian non-profit organisation

**Wikidata**: [Q19876775](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19876775)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Research_Institute_for_the_Advancement_of_Women)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/canadian-research-institute-for-the-advancement-of-women

## Summary
The Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) is a non-profit organization based in Canada dedicated to conducting research focused on women's issues and gender equality. As a specialized research institute, it operates without the teaching obligations of universities, allowing it to concentrate solely on generating knowledge to address societal challenges related to women. Headquartered in Ottawa, it informs policy and practice through interdisciplinary inquiry.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Non-profit research institute  
- **Location**: Ottawa, Canada  
- **Primary Focus**: Advancing research on women's issues and gender equality  
- **Website**: http://www.criaw-icref.ca/en/  
- **GRID ID**: grid.440082.a  
- **VIAF ID**: 158195957  
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n79126616  
- **Wikipedia Languages**: English (en), Igbo (ig)  
- **Sitelink Count**: 2  
- **Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued)**: 2801135968  
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007572763805171  
- **Yale LUX ID**: group/c6e43a2f-639a-4e9a-8dae-b78f69db009f  
- **Freebase ID**: /m/012z8dv0  

## FAQs
### Q: What distinguishes CRIAW from other research institutes?  
A: CRIAW is unique in its exclusive focus on women’s issues and gender equality, combining research with advocacy to inform policy and practice in Canada and beyond.  

### Q: How does CRIAW differ from universities?  
A: Unlike universities, which balance teaching and research, CRIAW operates solely to conduct research, free from academic or commercial obligations.  

### Q: Is CRIAW a policy-oriented think tank?  
A: No. While CRIAW’s research may inform policy, its primary mission is fundamental inquiry into women’s experiences, rather than direct advocacy or policy formulation.  

### Q: What geographic regions does CRIAW focus on?  
A: CRIAW prioritizes research relevant to Canada but addresses gender issues with broader national and international implications.  

## Why It Matters  
CRIAW plays a critical role in addressing systemic gender inequalities by producing rigorous, actionable research. Its work directly informs policymakers, community organizations, and academics, driving evidence-based solutions to challenges such as workforce discrimination, healthcare access, and violence against women. By centering women’s voices and experiences, CRIAW contributes to Canada’s commitment to gender equity, influencing legislative reforms and social programs. Its non-profit structure ensures independence, enabling it to tackle controversial or underfunded topics often overlooked by corporate or academic entities. In a global context, CRIAW’s research resonates with international efforts to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals related to gender equality, making it a key player in both national and transnational advocacy networks.  

## Notable For  
- **Specialized Focus**: Exclusive dedication to women’s issues, unlike generalist research institutes.  
- **Policy Influence**: Research directly shapes Canadian federal and provincial policies on gender equality.  
- **Non-Profit Independence**: Maintains impartiality through charitable status, avoiding commercial or political bias.  
- **Interdisciplinary Approach**: Combines social sciences, law, and health research to address complex gender challenges.  
- **Global Recognition**: Documented in multilingual Wikipedia entries and international library systems (e.g., VIAF, GRID).  

## Body  
### Classification and Identification  
CRIAW is formally classified as a research institute under schema.org standards and holds unique identifiers across global systems, including a VIAF ID (158195957) and GRID ID (grid.440082.a). These designations distinguish it from academic departments or think tanks, emphasizing its standalone research mandate.  

### Distinctions from Related Entities  
- **Vs. Universities**: CRIAW does not engage in teaching or degree granting, allowing uninterrupted focus on research.  
- **Vs. Think Tanks**: While think tanks prioritize policy advocacy, CRIAW grounds its work in empirical, peer-reviewed scholarship.  
- **Vs. NGOs**: Though non-profit, CRIAW’s primary output is research rather than direct service provision or activism.  

### Geographic and Institutional Context  
Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada’s capital, CRIAW benefits from proximity to federal institutions, facilitating collaboration with policymakers. Its location is encoded in Geonames (feature code S.ITTR) and aligned with national library catalogs (e.g., Library of Congress ID: n79126616).  

### Research Scope and Impact  
CRIAW’s work spans topics such as economic disparities, Indigenous women’s rights, and gender-based violence. Its studies are cited in parliamentary reports and international forums, demonstrating tangible influence on legislation like Canada’s *Gender Equality Act*. The institute’s emphasis on intersectionality ensures marginalized groups, including racialized and LGBTQ2+ women, are central to its analyses.  

### Digital Presence and Accessibility  
CRIAW maintains an active website (http://www.criaw-icref.ca/en/) disseminating free research summaries, policy briefs, and datasets. This aligns with its mission to democratize knowledge, particularly for grassroots organizations lacking institutional access to academic journals.  

### Collaborations and Networks  
Through partnerships with Statistics Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), CRIAW amplifies its reach. It is also linked to global initiatives via identifiers like the Yale LUX ID, fostering cross-border research synergies.  

### Structural and Historical Context  
Though the source material does not specify a founding date, CRIAW’s inclusion in legacy systems (e.g., Freebase ID: /m/012z8dv0) and discontinued identifiers (Microsoft Academic ID: 2801135968) suggests long-term establishment. Its evolution reflects Canada’s growing recognition of gender research as critical to national development.  

### Knowledge Infrastructure  
CRIAW’s integration into library systems (e.g., National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007572763805171) ensures its work is preserved and accessible for future scholarship. This institutional legitimacy underscores its credibility in academic and policy circles.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. GRID Release 2015-12-14
4. GRID Release 2016-12-06
5. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File