What is intimate partner violence?

Intimate partner violence happens in both male-female and same-sex relationships. It includes physical aggression, psychological abuse, economic abuse, forced intercourse and other forms of sexual coercion. It also includes controlling behaviours such as isolating a person from family and friends or keeping the victim from getting help.

Recent Statistics Canada data notes that both men and women are victims of intimate partner violence, but 97% of chronic abusers are men. Most intimate partner assault offenders are current and former partners. Spousal assault can be fatal: between 1995 and 2004, spousal homicides made up nearly one-half (47%) of family related homicides.

Intimate partner violence can affect anyone regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexuality, education, or economic status.

Common warning signs or behaviours include:

A partner who:

• always has to be right
• decides what to do, when to do it, where to go
• controls the money
• demands to know where his/her partner is and who they are with.

A partner who practices emotional and psychological abuse, by:

• constantly criticizing his or her partner
• using humiliating language
• threatening to harm his or her partner, someone close to them, a pet or a valued possession
• threatening suicide if the partner leaves.

A partner who practises physical and sexual abuse, including:

• forcing his or her partner to have sex or engage in unwanted sexual acts
• slapping, kicking or punching his or her partner.

What are the consequences of intimate partner violence?

Abusive behaviour has immediate consequences, but it also has consequences that are felt long after the incidents have stopped. Intimate partner violence has psychological, physical, and economic effects on the victim and their family.

Psychological: Victims of intimate partner violence report feelings of lowered self-esteem, depression, shame and guilt.

Physical: According to a recent Statistics Canada report, female victims were injured in 44% of reported incidents of intimate partner violence and feared for their lives in 34% of incidents, while 19% of male victims reported injury and 10% feared for their lives.

Economic: No single Canadian study examines all the financial costs of intimate partner violence. However, estimates for the costs related to health, criminal justice, social service and lost productivity range from $1.5 billion to $15 billion.

Where to go for help

Creating a greater awareness of intimate partner violence is a critical part of stopping it. Here are resources and organizations that can help you or someone you know:

• Shelternet.ca lists rape crisis centres, transition houses and women’s centres across Canada. Information is available in ten languages.
• Transition houses and shelters for abused women in Canada - National Clearinghouse on Family Violence
• Directory of services and programs for abused men in Canada - National Clearinghouse on Family Violence

If you are being abused or are concerned about the safety of someone else, get help now!

Additional information

The cycle of violence and how you can break it - Manitoba Justice

Power & control wheel: for women - Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System

Men abused by women: information sheet - Alberta Children’s Services

Domestic violence in the LGBT community - Canadian Women's Health Network

Do you know a woman who is being abused? A legal rights handbook - Community Legal Education Ontario

References

Greaves, L., Hankivsky, O., Kingston-Riechers, K. Selected estimates of the costs of violence against women. London, ON: Centre for Research on Violence against Women and Children, 1995. Available at: http://www.crvawc.ca/docs/pub_greaves1995.pdf. Accessed May 10, 2007.

Canada. Statistics Canada. Measuring violence against women: statistical trends 2006. Prepared by Holly Johnson. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada, 2006. Available at: http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/85-570-XIE/85-570-XIE2006001.pdf. Accessed May 10, 2007.

Canada. Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: a statistical profile 2005. Edited by Kathy AuCoin. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada, 2006. Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/pdfs/fv-85-224-XIE2005000_e.pdf Accessed April 21, 2008

Canada. Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: a statistical profile 2006  Prepared by Lucie Ogrodnik. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada, 2006. Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/pdfs/fv-85-224-XIE2006000_e.pdf Accessed May 10, 2007.

Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick. Ending abuse in your relationship: a woman’s roadmap to empowerment. Fredericton, NB: Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick, 2005. Available at: http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/assets/docs/ending-abuse.pdf. Accessed May 10, 2007.

World Health Organization. Intimate partner violence. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2002. Available at: http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world
_report/factsheets/en/ipvfacts.pdf . Accessed May 10, 2007.