What is Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis Plus and Why Is It Important in Biosafety and Biosecurity?

The Government of Canada is committed to applying Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus in policy and program development to improve outcomes for all people in Canada. Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus examines the intersection of sex and gender with factors such as:

• age
• race
• ethnicity
• disability
• migration status
• sexual orientation
• cultural background
• geographic location
• socio-economic status
• broader systems of power

Understanding potential impacts on people helps make for better decisions and better programs.

While Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus is a requirement for federal departments and agencies like the Public Health Agency of Canada, those working with human pathogens and toxins in regulated facilities are not mandated to apply Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus. However, it is an important lens that informs how we develop guidance, regulations, and compliance strategies.

Still not sure what the “plus” encompasses?

The “plus” in gender-based analysis plus acknowledges that Gender-Based Analysis goes beyond sex and gender. It examines how sex and gender intersect with other identities such as:

• age
• race
• religion
• ethnicity
• mental disability
• physical disability.

What does this have to do with Biosafety and Biosecurity?

Biosafety and biosecurity policies must work effectively across a range of settings from small research laboratories to large clinical facilities. Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus helps ensure that guidance and regulatory approaches are:

• Inclusive and accessible, considering differences in workplace roles and responsibilities;
• Responsive to diverse risk profiles, including variations in training, awareness, and experience;
• Better aligned with real-world operational contexts, where gender and other identity factors may influence how safety practices are applied and understood.

For example, applying Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus might influence how we design training materials to ensure they are understandable and relevant to all staff in a laboratory setting, regardless of background. It can also help identify whether certain groups may face barriers to understanding and complying with requirements in the Canadian Biosafety Standard, Third Edition.

As part of our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement in our programs, the Centre for Biosecurity is exploring ways to better understand the diverse realities of individuals working in regulated facilities. This work helps us consider where Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus principles may be relevant and how they can be meaningfully incorporated into our biosecurity programs, policies, and guidance. We recently completed a Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus survey of our regulated parties to better understand the demographics of individuals working in facilities regulated under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Regulations. We want to know how useful and effective our biosafety and biosecurity resources are, and if different groups of people have different experiences with these resources. The survey is now closed, and we will be reviewing and analyzing the data received to look for areas to improve our outreach initiatives.