What is gender -based violence?
Gender-Based Violence is defined by the United Nations as ‘harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender’. Women, girls, and gender-diverse people are more likely to be victims of gender-based violence.
What does gender-based violence look like?
Gender-Based Violence can take many forms. It can mean physical abuse, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, threats of violence, verbal and emotional abuse, psychological manipulation, and/or financial control.
In an intimate relationship, gender-based violence is used to assert dominance and control over a partner. The abuse tends to take place in private spaces, and perpetrators are generally not violent or abusive to other people.
Gender-based violence should not be attributed to anger management issues, alcohol consumption, stress, or mental health challenges.
Consequences of Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence can lead to homicide.
In Canada, 198 women and girls were killed in 2025 – an increase of 13% over the previous year.
Approximately every 48 hours, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner.
Indigenous women in Canada experience significantly higher rates of domestic violence than non-Indigenous women, and disproportionate rates of domestic homicide.
On any given night in Canada, over 6000 women and children sleep in shelters because it isn’t safe for them at home.
Facts about gender-based violence in Canada
6,000Women and children sleep in shelters every night because it isn’t safe for them at home.
40,000 Arrests result from gender-based violence in Canada every year.
75% Physical assault is the most common type of family violence reported to the police.
Every 48 hours, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner.
44% Of women have experienced some form of gender-based violence in their lifetimes.
64% Of people in Canada know a woman who has experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.