What is violence against women and children?

Violence against women is an outcome of gender inequality. Abuse can happen in many ways:

• PHYSICAL hitting or sexual assault
• FINANCIAL keeping or controlling money
• EMOTIONAL yelling or insulting
• FOLLOWING OR HARASSING your or your friends
• THREATENING to hurt you, your children or your pets if you leave
• THREATENING SUICIDE if you leave

Violence creates FEAR. Women and children are afraid to say or do what they want. They often walk on eggshells worrying about what may happen if they do something the abuser does not like.

Violence in intimate relationships happens to women from all backgrounds regardless of income, ability, religion cultural or ethnic group or sexual orientation.

Assault and making threats are chargeable offences under the Canadian Criminal Code.

Did you know?

Statistics show that the time of greatest risk for abused women and their children is when they leave or are attempting to leave the relationship.

The majority of severe relationship abuse is perpetrated by men against their female partners. Men’s violence against women is often planned and based on maintaining power and control.

Women and children may be afraid that no one will believe them. They may be afraid that things will be worse for them if they tell. They may be ashamed thinking that they are to blame for the violence or are told they deserve it.

At Kaushee’s Place, we believe, support and shelter women and their children. We help women make safety plans to protect them in the community. We also provide advocacy and education on the dynamics of intimate partner violence.

All women are valued and treated with dignity.

What can you do?

• Call the police or 911
• Call us collect anytime
• Call a family member or friend who can keep you safe
• Keep a diary of events
• See your Doctor or Health Nurse to have physical and emotional injuries recorded
• Make a safety plan
• Believe in your own worth
• Speak out against violence against women in your community, small or large, and support women who’ve experienced it

We honour the strength and bravery of women who live in or leave abusive relationships and those who dare to speak out against violence.