BRINGING AWARENESS
Facts
Gender based violence can cause physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health problems.
What is Gender Based Violence?
- The UN defines gender base violence as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” (found here)
- The Department for Women and Gender Equality defines GBV as violence that is committed against someone based on their gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender. (found here)
- The World Health Organization states that violence against women is a major public health problem. WHO estimated 1 in 3 women worldwide have experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
- Gender based violence can cause physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health problems from women. Furthermore, GBV can lead to social and economic costs for their families and society. Canadians annually spend $8.4 billion to deal with these consequences, this includes emergency room costs and at worse funeral costs. (found here)
How does GBV affect Canadians?
- In Canada, approximately every week a woman is killed by her partner. Yet, in Canada it is unknown how many racialized (African (Black) or Women of Caribbean descent Canadian born, or immigrant are killed by their partners every week because data based on race is not collected.
- Half of all women in Canada have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. It is unknown how many of these women are Black or racialized.
- Factors such as age, race, disability, immigrant status, and sexual orientation all intersect and can impact risk and protective factors, as well as access to support services.
- More than 11 million Canadians have been physically or sexually assaulted since the age of 15. (found here)
- Indigenous women experience violence at a rate 2.7 times higher than non-indigenous women. (found here) GBV is still one of the most underreported crimes in Canada. 70% of spousal violence is not reported to the police. In 2014, only 5% of sexual assaults were reported to police. (found here)
- Especially at this time, gender-based violence often increases during economic downturn, especially as social services are impacted during times of crisis.
GBV and COVID-19
- 1 in 10 women in Canada is extremely concerned about the possibility of violence in the home during COVID-19. (found here)
- Preliminary data suggest a significant increase in gender-based violence cases related to the pandemic, as well as a reduction in survivors seeking services.
- As lockdown measures go into effect, and stress increases due to the pandemic, intimate partner violence is likely to increase. Additionally, social services will be disrupted and reproductive and mental health care will become limited. This will make it difficult for survivors to access the few resources available.
- Across the world domestic violence increased after quarantine measures went into effect. A 30% increase in emergency calls, calls to domestic violence helplines and increased need for emergency shelter have been reported in several countries including Canada. (found here and here)
We must address gender-based violence
- Every 6 days a woman in Canada loses her life to gender based violence.
- Canadians annually pay $8.4 billion as a consequence of gender-based violence
- Gender based violence has a profound effect on women, children, and their families. Society is better off when everyone is free from violence.
Prevention is better than cure (Thomas Adams, 1630)
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Understanding how violence or any type of abuse works is key to prevention.
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Maama Watali and Maama Support Circles Team encourages you to learn from our research articles and other materials.
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Use the resources if you must seek protection from an abuser
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Create listening circles with friends and family and watch our educational webinars where experts discuss the roots of gender violence and how it can occur in the lives of women and their families.
