STATISTICS ON FAMILY VIOLENCE IN CANADA
Updated June 2009 by
Women, Information and Advocacy
www.domesticabusemuststop.org
Fact:
There is no law against “Spousal Violence” in Canada
A woman in Canada
has a 1.3% risk of developing breast cancer and overall a
7% chance of being physically or sexually assaulted by their spouse
An average of 71 women are murdered by their partners each year in Canada.
1 woman is raped every 5 minutes in the
United States
From Paying for the Violence: Some of the Costs of Violence Against Women in B.C May 1996 by R. Kerr and J. McLean
COSTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN BC
Estimated cost in millions of dollars
Policing: 47
Corrections: 39
Criminal injury compensation 17
Victim Assistance Programs 3
Counselling for women 5
Aboriginal Programs 3
Mental health care (Partial) 18
Alcohol & Drug Treatment 7
Income Assistance 161
Transition Houses 25
Sexual & Women’s Assault Centres 2
Women’s Loss of Work Time 54
Children who Witness Programs 2
Treatment Programs For Men 2
Total Identified Costs 385 million
Health Canada Study 2002
$1.1 Billion US was spent in Canada in 2002 on direct medical costs of violence against women
United Nations, Violence Against Women, 1995
The World Bank has estimated that in industrialized countries, sexual assault and domestic violence take away almost one in five healthy years of life of women aged 15 to 44
Across Canada
-50% of reported homicides were committed by a spouse or family member
-17% of reported homicides were spousal homicides
-6 in 10 homicides against children & youth were committed by family members-90% by a parent
-There were 155 spousal homicides or attempted homicides in 2006
-78 spousal homicides in 2006 up 4 from 2005 but not included are
15 homicides committed by boyfriend/girlfriend (current or former)
-15% (38,000) of all police reported violent incidences across Canada were spousal violence
-16,000 incidents of Criminal Harassment were reported
-Only 14% of violent crimes against women were committed by a stranger
-8 in 10 victims of spousal violence were females
-Spousal violence between same-sex couples twice the rate of violence between heterosexual couples
Here in B.C.
- 8% of reported incidents of violence in BC were incidence of Spousal Violence
- 105 shelters in BC admitted 11,881 women and 5,416 children 2007/2008
- 9% of women have reported spousal violence
- Police reported spousal violence included
Sexual assault 2%
- Major assault 12%
- Common assault 68%
- Criminal harassment 4%
- Uttering threats 11%
- Other 4%
Seniors
· 39% of female senior victims were victimized by a relative
· In 2005 4 in 10 homicides against seniors were committed by a family member, 31% by an acquaintance, 17% by a stranger
· Female victims of family homicide are most likely killed by their spouse (40%), or adult son (34%)
· 61% of male homicide victims were most likely to be killed by their adult son or step-son.
Young Women at Greatest Risk
- Young Women (aged 15-24) were killed at a rate 3 times higher than any other age group over the past decade
- 16% of spousal violence incidents were against women 15-24, 33% against women 25-34
- As many as 1 out of 5 young women in high school are in an abusive relationship
- 63% of all sexual assaults reported to the police involve girls under the age of 18.
· 13% of female youth in BC have been sexually assaulted
· Young women were 10 times more likely to be a victim of spousal assault than young males
Children and Youth at Risk
- Children and youth are most likely to be physically or sexually assaulted by some one they knew.
- 67% of the homicides of children and youth were committed by someone in their family while only 8% were committed by strangers
Between 2000 and 2001 family related physical violence against children and youth increased 14%
- 48% of households were child maltreatment was found had two caregivers
Responses to Family Violence
Family Violence in Canada: A statistical profile 2006
· 57% of all victims indicated the violence decreased after police intervention
· 30% of victims indicated no change in level of violence
· Charges were laid in 83% of reported cases of spousal violence
· Spouses received shorter average prison sentences for major assault than did other perpetrators
Spousal Homicides
- 84% of solved homicides were committed by someone known to the victim
- 1/3 of victims were killed by a family member and 1/3 by an acquaintance.
- 82% of perpetrators were male
- In ¾ of spousal homicides or attempted homicides the perpetrator had no prior arrest
- 37% of spousal homicides or attempts occurred less than 6 months after the last incident of abuse reported to police
- 39% of spousal homicides involved victims who were living common-law
Transition Houses and Shelters
· 569 shelters were in operation
· 101,019 women and children were admitted to shelters between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008
· 3,222 women and 2900 children were residing in shelters on April 16, 2008 to escape from abuse
· 31 per 100,000 married, common-law and separated were in shelters
· 2/3 were fleeing abuse from a current spouse or partner
· 55% were fleeing physical abuse
· ¼ were there to protect their children
· 21 % of women had to leave their children behind
· Women living in common-law relationships were 3 times more likely to experience abuse
· 7% were fleeing abuse by someone they were are had been dating
· 6% were fleeing abuse by a relative
· 8 in 10 abused women in shelters were under 45
· 36% of women in shelters were between 25 and 34
· 299 women and 148 children were turned away from a shelter mainly due to lack of room
Effects on Children
· $15 billion estimated costs of child abuse to child victims and adult survivors
· 28% of Substantiated Child Maltreatment in Canada is exposure to Domestic Violence
· 1 in 12 children between the ages of 4 and 7 have witnessed Family Violence
· Children may be hurt trying to protect their mothers
· Child behaviors associated with witnessing family violence include aggression, and internalization of problems, with negative effects on social and academic development
These statistics are taken from
·Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008,2007, 2006
·Residents of Canada’s shelters for abused women, 2007/2008 Stats Canada
·National Cancer Institute of Canada
·Measuring Violence Against Women 2006
·Femicide list
·Homicide in Canada, 2007-Stats Canada
Women, Information & Advocacy
www.domesticabusemuststop.org
If you are in immediate danger please dial 911 or your local emergency number
If you are in BC and require help please call Victim Link 1-800-563-0808
7 days a week 24 hours a day
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