Domestic and Family Violence

Domestic violence is identified as violence in intimate relationships, including those between the opposite-sex and same-sex partners.

Relationships vary in duration and legal formality and encompass current and former dating partners, common-law, and married couples. Although both women and men can be victims of domestic violence, the overwhelming majority of domestic violence involves men abusing women.

Domestic violence crimes are often committed in a context where there is a pattern of assaultive and controlling behaviour. This violence can involve physical assault, and emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse. It can also include threats to harm past or present partners, children, other family members, pets, and property. Violence is used to intimidate, humiliate, or frighten victims, or to make them feel powerless. Domestic violence may include a single act of abuse or several acts, which may appear minor or trivial when viewed in isolation, but collectively form a pattern that amounts to abuse.

Family violence is defined as any form of abuse or neglect that a child or adult experiences from a family member, or from someone with whom they have an intimate relationship.43 Exposure to violence and experiences of abuse can lead to poor physical and mental health outcomes and potentially lead to injury or even death. An intersection of individual, family, community, and societal factors can influence whether an individual experiences family violence.

For example, a history of child abuse or neglect, substance use, family conflict, poverty, and gender norms can all contribute to the risk of family violence.