Violence against Women

According to the Canadian W omen's Foundation, statistics show that violence against women is a very serious issue in Canada:

* Half of Canadian women (51%) have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
* Every minute of every day, a Canadian woman or child is being sexually assaulted.
* One to two women are murdered by a current or former partner each week in Canada.
* Spousal violence makes up the single largest category of convictions involving violent of fences in non-specialized adult courts in Canada over the five-year period 1997/98 to 2001/02. Over 90% of offenders were male.
* Thirty-six percent of female victims of spousal violence and less than 10% of victims of sexual assault reported these crimes to the police in 2004.
* Violence against women occurs across all ethnic, racial, religious, age, social and economic groups.
* In 2004, twice as many women than men were beaten by their partners and four times as many were choked.
* Of the almost 34,000 victims of spousal violence reported in 2000, women accounted for the majority of victims (85%): a total of 28,633 victims.
* Women are three times more likely than men to be physically injured by spousal violence and five times more likely to require medical attention.
* Women are five times more likely to fear for their lives as a result of spousal violence: the violence or threat of violence was so severe that 38% of women feared for their lives compared with 7% of men.
* Every year in Canada, up to 360,000 children are exposed to domestic violence.For children who are exposed to violence, consequences can include emotional trauma, depression, injury and permanent disability, as well as other physical, psychological and behavioral problems that can extend into adolescence and adulthood.
* 58,486 women and 36,840 children sought refuge in one of 473 shelters across Canada between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004.

These statistics highlight the need for social programs and services to address and help eliminate violence against women.The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic provides free legal, counseling and cultural interpretation services for survivors of violence and has provided these services to over 35,000 women.

How can you help?
By Volunteering or Donating
Call 416-323-9149