Statistics

The Violence Against Women Survey - Highlights

One-half of all Canadian women have experienced at least one incident of violence since the age of 16

Almost one-half of women reported violence by men known to them and one-quarter reported violence by a stranger

One-quarter of all women have experienced violence at the hands of their current or past marital partner (includes common-law unions)

One-in-six currently married women reported violence by their spouses; one-half of women with previous marriages reported violence by a previous spouse

More than one-in-ten women who reported violence in a current marriage have at some point felt their lives were in danger

Six-in-ten Canadian women who walk alone in their own area after dark feel 'very' or 'somewhat' worried doing so

Women with violent fathers-in-law are at three times the risk of assault by their partners than are women with non-violent fathers-in-law

Prevalence and severity of abuse

One in four Canadian women suffer some form of abuse by their partners.

Women are at greatest risk of increased violence – or murder – at the hands of their partner during the time just before or after they leave an abusive relationship.

Spousal homicide accounts for 15% of all homicides in Canada. In the 10 year period between 1979 and 1998, 1,901 people were killed by a spouse: 1,468 women and 433 men. A woman is nine times more likely to be murdered by an intimate partner than by a stranger.

Domestic abuse remains an immensely under-reported crime: it is estimated that just 25% of domestic violence incidents are reported.

Effect on children

Approximately 40% of wife assault incidents begin during a woman’s first pregnancy.

Children are present and witness the abuse in 80% of domestic violence cases.

Boys who witness domestic violence against their mothers are five times more likely to grow up to be abusers while girls who witness violence are five times more likely to grow up to be victims of abuse.

Children and adolescents who see their mother being abused experience emotional and behavioural problems similar to children who are physically abused.

Children who witness woman abuse frequently experience post traumatic stress disorder.

The cost of domestic violence

The costs associated with physical and sexual violence against women in Canada total over $4.2 billion each year. This includes medical fees, police services, social agencies, income assistance, unemployment, the justice system, educational support and temporary housing.

The preceding information is a compilation of data and reports from several sources including Statistics Canada, the Ministry of the Solicitor General, Education Wife Assault, Toronto, the Ontario Women’s Directorate, the Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children, Interim Place service statistics.