Violence - The Truth

Facts about Violence Against Women and Children in Canada

One out of three women has been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
Every second a woman somewhere in Canada experiences some form of sexual violence
80% of aboriginal women have been assaulted or abused.
Women with disabilities are 150% more likely to be sexually abused or assaulted, than women without disabilities
In Canada one to two women are murdered by a former or current partner every week
Every year in Canada, up to 360,000 children are exposed to domestic violence
Children who witness family violence often display elevated rates of depression, aggression, delinquency, and other emotional problems
Women are three times more likely than men to be physically injured by spousal violence and five times more likely to require medical attention
89% of sexual assault victims/survivors have no visible physical injuries
Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic
Violence is a major factor in women’s health and well-being. Health related costs of violence against women in Canada exceed $1.5 billion a year.

Violence in lesbian relationships:

A small study found that 20% of lesbians had experienced some form of emotional/psychological or physical violence in a relationship with a woman. Eleven percent had experienced physical violence, and 2% had been sexually assaulted in the relationship. The statistics are much lower than in male-female relationships, but it nevertheless remains an important issue, particularly because lesbians may not feel they can seek help from social services, police or the courts because of the stigma and discrimination around sexual orientation.