Assessing the prevalence of violence against women in Canada

1
Assessing the prevalence of violence against
women in Canada

• Heather Dryburgh, Ph.D.
• Statistics Canada
• Presented on behalf of Holly Johnson, Ph.D.

2
Overview

• Statistics Canadas experience in designing and
  conducting national prevalence surveys
• Benefits of this work
• Gaps in current data collection
• A broader strategy for data collection

3
Statistics Canadas prevalence surveys

• 1993 national VAWS 12,300 women
• Partner violence module added to ongoing crime
  victimization survey 25,000 women and men
• Special module on stalking in 2004

4
Challenges of conducting prevalence surveys

• Emotional trauma
• Ensuring the safety of respondents
• Definitions of violence
• Reducing response bias

5
Benefits of the VAW surveys in Canada

• Enhance public awareness
• Provide detailed statistical data for
  practitioners, service providers, researchers,
  legislators
• Provide detailed data on prevalence,
  correlates/risk markers, impacts, reporting to
  police, use of services
• Develop a methodology for interviewing on
  sensitive topics

6
Current gaps

• Immigrant and minority women (due to language,
  discomfort with the survey approach)
• Homeless women
• Abused women living in shelters
• Those with mobile phones only
• Other forms of violence trafficking, forced
  prostitution

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A broader strategy for data collection

• Police surveys
• Court statistics
• Services for victims
• Morbidity and mortality statistics
• Other indicators of social change

8
A broader strategy for data collection

• Detailed police surveys that address
• trends in reported violence over time
• repeat offending and victimization
• charges laid
• reasons for not laying charges
• referrals made to specialized services
• the use of peace bonds and restraining orders
• other protections for victims

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• Court statistics
• reasons cases are dismissed or withdrawn
• conviction rates
• type of sentence and treatment ordered
• bail granted or denied
• supports and protections for victims provided at
  court
• repeat offending and victimization according to
  type of sentence

10

• Services for victims
• numbers of women and children using shelters
  each year
• number of women using other types of services,
  such as sexual assault centres
• repeat use of shelters and other services

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• Morbidity and mortality statistics
• women presenting for medical treatment for
  injuries resulting from violence
• repeat medical visits due to injury
• indicator of the severity of the problem, demand
  for health services resulting from violence,
  health costs due to violence

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• Other indicators of societal change
• surveys to monitor shifts in attitudes toward
  women and their place in society
• socio-economic status of women education,
  employment, income, age at marriage and first
  child
• availability of services for abused women