Research shows that experiences of intimate partner violence are a common pathway into the criminal justice system for survivors, especially racialized survivors. Women may be forced into criminal activities by partners or rely on criminal activities as a means of survival.
This infographic outlines the common pathways into criminalization, including coercion, coping and fleeing.
There is a significant correlation between the experiences of intimate partner violence and criminalization among Black women. Black women with multiple intersecting identities of marginalization such as race, class, citizenship status and gender are the most vulnerable to violence and interactions with the criminal justice system.
This infographic draws on Canadian research to highlight the impact of intimate partner violence on the experience of criminalization among Black women.
Access to justice is a human rights and equity issue that is significant to all Canadians, including women experiencing violence. In the last decade, technology has been identified as a potential mechanism to address the barriers to justice. Technology has changed how organizations and sectors deliver legal services, information and support. While there is a common narrative around technology in literature as a tool to perpetuate violence, there is a need to understand how technology can improve survivor’s access to justice and help facilitate their safety.
This literature review explores the literature at the intersections of these three areas of discourse – violence against women, access to justice and technology. It explores the role of technology in increasing survivor’s access to legal information and services as well as potential risks and considerations.
Most of the housing options for women fleeing violence have something in common: they place the onus on women to leave home in order to reach safety. However, policies and programs that prioritize women’s independence can instead enable women to stay safely in their own homes. This shift in practice is a step forward in holding perpetrators accountable for their violence and limiting the consequences for survivors.
This literature review synthesizes the evidence on supporting women to remain safely in their home when leaving a violent relationship. It explores policy and program approaches from other jurisdictions, evaluation findings on the intervention’s outcomes and challenges, and promising practices that can broaden housing solutions for violence against women.
In January 2021, the Canadian government announced a commitment to develop a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. Leading up to the development of the Plan, we undertook consultations with community organizations and survivors on what they wanted to see in the Plan.
The report provides an overview of what we heard from consultations, including key messages and priorities for the Plan.
Technology and violence against women are closely connected. While technology can help women access information and services, it can also be used to perpetuate violence.
This infographic looks at the ways in which technology and gender-based violence are related.
Technology creates new ways to perpetuate violence against women, including sending harassing text messages, tracking someone using the GPS on their device or threatening to share someone’s private images without their permission.
This infographic looks at the different types of technology-based violence and ways we can address it.
Multi-agency collaboration, including the development of formal partnership arrangement and information sharing protocols, have been recognized as an approach that increases the effectiveness of services in responding to and reducing intimate partner violence. Domestic violence death review committees across Canada have called for information sharing between services agencies serving clients experiencing intimate partner violence.
The literature review highlights literature on information sharing amongst services providers in relation to intimate partner violence in Canada. The review will help inform the wider MARAC project which is aimed at piloting high risk domestic violence tables in three communities across Ontario. In particular, the review will help inform the development of information sharing policy and practice for MARAC operation in Canada.
Risk assessment, safety planning and information sharing are common practices in the violence against women sector to help identify the likelihood of repeat or increased violence and prevent further harm. The practice of information sharing between providers is seen by many as an effective way to reduce serious harm.
This report draws on focus groups and interviews with service providers and explores their experiences of risk assessment and information sharing, including challenges and promising practices. The aim of the report is to help inform the wider MARAC project which is aimed at piloting high risk domestic violence tables in three communities across Ontario.
Technology-based intimate partner violence encompasses acts of abuse that are committed with the use of technology to exert power or control over a current or former spouse. While the causes and consequences of this form of violence remain largely the same as other forms of violence against women, the use of technology can create new mechanisms to exert controlling behaviour.
This issue brief explores the definition of technology-based intimate partner violence and discusses different types, including harassment, stalking, isolation and impersonation. The issue brief also suggests some ideas for preventing and responding to technology-based intimate partner violence.