Domestic Violence in Canada

Intimate partner violence has been a significant issue for centuries in all countries. "Since 1974, nearly 2,600 spousal homicides have been recorded in Canada" (Bunge, 2002). Of these homicides, more than three-quarters have been against women. Although through feminism and the women's liberation movement, there has been a slight improvement in the incidences of violence against women, there has also been a drastic change in the perception of the issue by society. After reviewing the most recent literature on violence against women and victimization through intimate partners, it has become prevalent that there are now two crucial stances that are taken. The first position is that of the women being victimized as the

Violence affects a healthy family’s relationship, state of mind and well-being, in other words, it’s normal functions. Because of violence, children are forced to endure and cope with mental, physical and emotional trauma leading to a display of impacts on health, development, and wellbeing. The effects build up over time and can impact on every aspect of their life.  How many children and innocent lives must suffer from something unnecessary? Imagine walking into a home late at night to find a child hiding in a corner, with a bloody face and cuts all around their body saying they were self-inflicted or making up other silly excuses like falling down the stairs out of extreme fear. Up to 75% of all acts of domestic violence occurs between the ages 18-24. No child should ever see domestic violence as normal because the moment that happens a future perpetrator has been born. We need to take a stand and refuse to let domestic violence become something we ignore.

Astounding statistics reported by the Children’s Defense Fund, “An estimated 3 to 4 million women in the United States are battered each year by their partners, In homes where domestic violence occurs, children are seriously abused or neglected at a rate 1500% higher than the national average in the general population, Between 2.3 and 10 million children are witnesses to family violence, Based on an estimate of 2 children per household, in 55% of violent homes, at least 3.3 million children in the U.S. are at risk of witnessing domestic violence each year,” (Retrieved, 10/12/2011, http://cdf.childrensdefense.org).

The battered woman defense is a defense that is used in court to defend assault/murder charges where the defendant is abused and commits a offence under duress or necessity. It is mainly used by women and also referred to as the battered woman syndrome/battered wife syndrome.

Each nation on the planet has been touched somehow by family viciousness. Countless women and children are subjected every day to viciousness inside their family homes, the setting where they ought to feel the most secure. Family savagery crosses the limits of sex, age, social class, training, and race; Statistics demonstrate that around 1 in 3 ladies worldwide will be influenced by family brutality inside her lifetime. Savagery majorly affects one's physical, social and mental prosperity. Furthermore, the wellbeing related costs associated with family savagery in Canada represent 1.5 billion dollars for each year. This number records for transient medicinal issues, long haul treatment for mental problems, lost time at work, and the utilization of ladies' sanctuaries. In perspective of these insights, aggressive behavior at home is a noteworthy worry over the globe. In like manner, this paper will look at the extent of family viciousness here in Canada and will investigate the circumstance with the United States, Australia, and India. Likewise, answers for the abusive behavior at home issue in Canada will similarly be tended to.

Family violence is a multifaceted problem in Canada. In the last 20 years, the majority of the provinces and territories have created legislation to address the issue (1). As of 2011, 26% of all crime in Canada was that of family violence with the majority of the victims being female (2). The economic impact in Canada is estimated to be $7.4 billion with over 80% of that cost falling to the victim (3). While the prosecution of these crimes is high, the conviction rate remains low (4). The pathologist Sir Bernard Spilsbury stated, “Bruises are a much neglected branch of injuries” (5). Given that 71% of the reported family violence cases are physical assaults, most of these victims will have bruises of various ages (6). In such cases,

Domestic violence in Australia is a very serious issue with just under half a million women reporting that they have experienced physical or sexual assault in the past 12 months. Domestic violence is defined as violent or aggressive behaviour that occurs in the home. This can involve every member of the family. As the public have become more aware and open to speaking about domestic violence, organisations such as Reach Out and support services have been setup. The more open a society is to an issue the more that can be done about it. Media has helped strongly to spread awareness around as information is able to be sent to millions of Australians.

Domestic violence is the presence of violence within a relationship and takes place privately in domestic areas (Aic.gov.au, 2015). Domestic violence includes psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse (Aic.gov.au, 2015). In the survey conducted among the general public in Australia an anonymous respondent defined domestic violence as “Violent or aggressive behaviour, typically involving the abuse of a partner” (Kuol A. 2015).

Domestic Violence is violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or a partner.

Violence is a common issue not only in The United States, but all around the world. There are many forms of violence such as domestic violence, sexual assault and rape, and murders. About every twenty seconds a person becomes the victim of domestic abuse ( Domestic Violence n.d.). One and six women are victims of sexual assault or rape ( Thinking of Ways to Help?, n.d.). This is an issue typically not addressed or prevented. There are ways people can be taught to help prevent domestic violence, sexual assault, and even possibly murder from a family member.

The purpose of this book was to examine thirty-nine women whom survived abuse, leaving their abusive partner. The book shares the women’s stories of their years of suffering and pain and their efforts to escape to better their life for their dependent children and themselves. Sev’er’s research covers multiple types of abuse the women faced including physical, sexual, economic, spiritual, or psychological abuse. Additionally, the women share their children’s witnessing the abuse and discuss how the abuse has effected their turn out. Sev’er explains the women’s general strategies for coping with the violence some were negative coping mechanisms and some positive coping strategies. Furthermore, Sev’er describes the positive and negative types of social support system the women experienced prior the abuse and the results of the isolation tactic used by the abuser. It’s important to study because partner violence is a serious social problem. It has significant negative impacts on the individual and any children witnessing the violence. It is important to bring to light the about the stories of women who survived.

According to stats Canada in 2011 there was nearly 95’000 victims in family violence that is 279 victims for every 100’000 people. Victims of family violence are most often women at 69%. Saskatchewan has the high rate of family violence at 583 victims for every 100’000 people. Murder-suicides are a problem as well in family violence. Between 2001-2011, there was 344 murder-suicides in Canada, of which 77% were family related. There were 52 family related incidents involving youth and children and 47 family involving seniors.

This research proposal entails the lives of children who have experienced domestic violence amongst their parents. My research proposal will depict whether or not violence and the interventions, if any, they received were of any benefit to those populations of children. These interventions could have come from a child protection specialist, a school teacher, or a shelter program advocate and many other professionals. Revealing this information will provide useful considerations for current and future interventions. Furthermore, it can lead to what has been needed most, some of the best intervention practices. An intervention should be perfect for each child with a goal to reduce any trauma that may be present. Furthermore, these interventions should provide the children with a clearer understanding of domestic violence, provide more safety, encourage resilience, and strengthen the bond with the non-offending parent, who is a victim as well. By interviewing and working with non-offending parents and their children it helps

In order to recognize the outcomes of domestic violence, it is key to know precisely what domestic violence is. Domestic violence is anything that involves physical damage, sexual assault, or distress of physical damage. In order to aid individuals who are going through domestic violence, it is fundamental to have a healthier understanding of what triggers domestic violence and how it affects the mistreated, abuser, and children of the mistreated.

Among the ages of fifteen and forty-four, domestic violence is the dominant source of trauma in our country (Domestic Violence). In the United States, primarily women and children are the ones affected by the domestic abuse. They suffer mentally, physically, and emotionally for an extensive amount of time attempting to cope with the terror. It is hard to realize that this is not only a situation that is demonstrated in television shows or movies, but this could be happening to people you encounter with on a daily basis. Some victims of domestic violence are oblivious to the signs or causes that could be developing the results of abuse, but when they recognize the situation, they have the decision to receive guidance to the solution of the overall problems.