DEKYAS NEWS World Breaking News and Trusted Source
Related Articles
Family and intimate partner violence in Canada is on the rise and while women and girls remain the primary victims, the number of cases where men and boys are victims also appears to be growing, new data shows.
According to a police study, between 2018 and 2023, police-reported family violence increased by 17 percent and intimate partner violence increased by 13 percent. Statistics Canada report published on Thursday.
In 2023, there were a total of 139,020 victims of domestic violence and 123,319 victims of intimate partner violence across the country, as reported to police.
These figures represent an overall increase of three percent in domestic violence committed by spouses, parents, children, siblings and extended family members last year, and an overall increase of one percent in intimate partner violence committed by current and former legally married spouses. , common law partners, dating partners and others.
“Increases were noted regardless of gender, although they were greater for men and boys,” Statistics Canada said in the data.
Humberto Carolo, CEO of White Ribbon, a Canadian organization that works with men and boys to end gender-based violence and discrimination, said the data is “concerning” but likely underreported because many people do not come forward or can’t do. seek support.
The number of reported domestic violence for women and girls was double that for men and boys in 2023, while reports of intimate partner violence were almost four times as high.
Women and girls also made up the majority of victims of such violence last year.
This comes as the term “femicide” – commonly defined as the killing of a woman or girl based on their gender – was first used by Ottawa police in August.
Carolo said the disproportionate impact of violence on women and girls is rooted in the “power imbalance” that exists between men and women, as well as the way boys and young men are often socialized to be dominant and withhold their emotions.
Receive weekly health news
Receive the latest medical news and health information every Sunday.
“Many men resort to the use of violence as a way to deal with their pain, as a way to take control of the situation, and this has significant consequences for the lives of women and girls who are on the receiving end of that experience, of those actions, of that violence,” he said.
Why do men report a greater increase in domestic violence?
StatCan data shows that the rate of domestic violence against men and boys increased by 19 percent between 2018 and 2023, and the rate of intimate partner violence increased by 20 percent.
By comparison, women and girls reported a 15 percent increase in domestic violence and a 12 percent increase in intimate partner violence over the same period.
This increase is notable because it may reflect greater awareness and education following the Me Too movement that began in 2017 and led to “more men stepping forward,” Carolo said.
“We are trying to break those stereotypes, expectations and gender norms where men are expected to just endure the challenges and difficulties in their lives,” he said.
“Instead, we encourage men to step beyond these stereotypes and come forward to seek and seek help to deal with the difficulties, the tensions, the crises and, in many cases, the violence that they too experienced.”
StatCan pointed to research suggesting that “men and boys who experience intimate partner violence may be more reluctant to report it to authorities due to the stigma surrounding male victims.”
According to the Public Health Agency of CanadaSome men and boys find it difficult to talk about intimate partner violence because they are under pressure to appear strong, in control and as if they don’t need help.
Carolo said there appears to be a better understanding among men and boys of the signs of violence, its impact and the need to seek support to prevent escalation.
Are other forms of violence also on the rise?
Family violence against children, young people and seniors rose to a record high last year, StatCan also reported.
Family violence against children and young people was most often committed by a parent (60 percent), while violence against seniors was committed by their child in 35 percent of cases.
Carolo said there needs to be more investment in primary prevention, as well as continued awareness for men and boys in particular, to help them “break those stereotypes.”
Developing community programs, ending bias in policing and providing better training and capacity for law enforcement officers could also help curb violence, he said.
Carolo urged Canadians to speak up if they see signs of violence at home, in the neighborhood or even in the workplace.
“We all have a role to play because violence, intimate partner violence and family violence is a public issue. And we must all step up and accept our responsibility to help end this and better support those experiencing violence.”
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Saba Aziz
Source link
