Children's rates of exposure to domestic violence increased 259 per cent since 1998. Exposure to domestic violence was the second most common form of substantiated maltreatment identified. (Source: Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect– 2003, Oct 2005)
On Prince Edward Island, children were known to be involved in 50 per cent of domestic violence reported to police. (Source: Brown, Police Response to Domestic Violence: A Provincial Overview, 2005)
Almost 40 per cent of women assaulted by spouses said their children witnessed the violence against them (either directly or indirectly) and in many cases the violence was severe. In half of cases of spousal violence against women that were witnessed by children, the woman feared for her life. (Source: Measuring Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends 2006, Statistics Canada)
An estimated 7% of women and 6% of men in a current or previous spousal relationship encountered spousal violence during the five years up to and including 2004. (Source: Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2005, Statistics Canada)
Data show that the nature and consequences of spousal violence were more severe for women than for men. Female victims of spousal violence were more than twice as likely to be injured as male victims. Women were also three times more likely to fear for their life, and twice as likely to be the targets of more than 10 violent episodes. (Source: Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2005, Statistics Canada)
Women are more likely than men to be the victims of the most severe forms of spousal assault, as well as spousal homicide, sexual assault and criminal harassment (stalking). (Source: Measuring Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends 2006, Statistics Canada)
Just over one-third of spousal assaults and less than 10 per cent of sexual assaults are reported. (Source: Measuring Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends 2006, Statistics Canada)
The number of spousal violence incidents against women has declined since 2000 while the rate of violence perpetrated by boyfriends has increased. (Source: Measuring Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends 2006, Statistics Canada)
