An estimated 1.4 million women in Toronto have experienced or will experience intimate partner violence; new framework launched ahead of Woman Abuse Prevention Month provides actionable tips to help 

Everyone has a right to live a life free from violence, yet gender-based crime remains a serious act that disproportionately affects women. It is reported that in Canada, two thirds of people know a woman who has experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse1, and approximately every six days, a woman is killed by her intimate partner2. Intimate partner violence is a prevalent form of gender-based violence that affects every socio-economic class and has plagued our country for decades. In fact, in July 2023, Toronto city council declared gender-based and intimate partner violence an epidemic3. It refers to multiple forms of harm caused by a current or former intimate partner or spouse and can occur at any time during a relationship, even after it has ended. In addition, since 2018, roughly 36 per cent of femicides – the gravest form of gender-based violence which involves the killing of a woman or girl, usually by a man, due solely to her gender – are committed in Ontario, the largest total of any province4.

Last year alone, at least 62 women and children in Ontario were victims5 of this heinous crime and by the end of June this year, the province had already reported 35 more cases6. It’s clear gender-based violence takes many forms and is a serious and complex issue, but to help raise awareness and equip people with actionable tools to fight it, this Woman Abuse Prevention Month, Victim Services Toronto, a non-profit organization that provides immediate trauma-informed support and advocacy for those affected by crime or sudden tragedy, is sharing its five tips to help end gender-based and intimate partner violence and make our community ‘S.A.F.E.R’: 

S- Support services making a difference; without donations, help will dwindle 

• Supporting organizations dedicated to ending gender-based violence will contribute to a safer, more inclusive society. Whether you give time or money, a gift of any size can have a transformative impact. Victim Services Toronto relies on both volunteers and donations to help fulfill its meaningful work that provides immediate, confidential support for victims, including: emotional support both in person and over the phone, practical assistance, safety planning, referrals and advocacy.  

A- Ask for Angela; know where in the city you can go for help and download the Angie app 

• “Ask for Angela” is a ground-breaking program to enhance the safety and wellbeing of the Toronto community. Through this program, a person in need can approach staff members at more than 238 Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart and other affiliated locations in Toronto and “Ask for Angela” as a code-phrase to signal to staff that they require the assistance. They are immediately connected with Victim Services Toronto. The VST team has also created the “Angie” app, that provides safety at your fingertips through alerts, situation support and community collaboration. It also simplifies the process of seeking help.

F- Fight the epidemic with open dialogue; the first step to dismantling the issue is to acknowledge it 

• Having real, transparent and healthy conversations with loved ones about the prevalence of intimate partner violence and gender-based crime will help bring the issue to the forefront of community and political agenda, and perhaps help victims come forward. 

E- Educate yourself and others on the signs of intimate partner violence 

• Understanding the signs that a relationship may be abusive allows you to help those in need to access support quicker. Signs can include: unexplained bruises; acting differently when one’s partner is around; controlling, critical or humiliating behaviour by a partner; withdrawal from friends and family; an uncharacteristic change in risk-taking behaviours (for example, doing drugs, drinking alcohol); and a drop in school or work performance. 

R – Reach out to Victim Services Toronto’s Hotline at (416) 808-7066 

• If you suspect that you, or someone you know, may be experiencing intimate partner violence, Victim Services Toronto is available to provide immediate, confidential support, 24/7. It is independent of law enforcement and provides immediate crisis response, intervention, and prevention services. Help and guidance is just a call away.

“Reports estimate that 40 per cent of women experience some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. At Victim Services Toronto, we understand the trauma and damage that occurs and know it remains one of the most underreported crimes,” says Jasminder Sekhon, Director of Community Engagement, EDI and Policy at Victim Services Toronto. “The GTA has a population of 6.4 million people, 52 per cent of which are female. Figures therefore suggests that 1.4 million women in Toronto alone have experienced or will experience some form of intimate partner violence. This is unacceptable and needs to change. While this won’t happen overnight, we hope our ‘S.A.F.E.R.’ framework will help as we continue our work to advocate for and support those in need.” 

The physical, emotional and economic cost of intimate partner violence 

Research shows that women disproportionately experience the most severe forms of intimate partner violence. This can include being choked, assaulted, threatened with a weapon, or being sexually assaulted. Despite the violent warning signs, many women are faced with hardships when trying to leave these often-complicated situations and feel trapped and isolated with nowhere to turn. Even Toronto’s shelters often must turn women away due to overcrowding7. The toll these situations have on women and girls is significant and The Department of Justice explains it costs roughly $7.4 billion nationally to deal with the aftermath of spousal violence alone. Understanding this issue and its economic impact is the first step in combatting the problem.  

Deeply impacting the foundation of our society, most survivors, especially the children who witness these violent crimes in their home, suffer emotional distress such as PTSD and need years of support to help overcome the aftermath. Thankfully, Ontario is slowly making progress with Bill 173, which requires the government to recognize IPV as an epidemic in Ontario. The Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2024, introduced in March, has passed through second reading and is now at the committee for consideration and further study.  

Unseen Superheroes 

While it’s clear that systemic change takes time, any victim of gender-based or intimate partner violence is one too many, which is why Victim Services Toronto is doing all it can to provide immediate action and support through its services. Its staff are often the unseen superheroes of our city, saving lives and making a difference. For example, one situation saw a mother of five children and newcomer to Canada badly beaten by her husband, who also abusing the children and had confined the family to a small room in their apartment. After she gained the courage to call police, he was immediately arrested, and Victim Services Toronto was brought in to help keep this woman and her children afloat as they had no food or money without his support and were at risk of becoming homeless. Victim Services took quick action and sourced community programs, food banks, linked the family with a housing specialist, government financial aid and children’s resources. Today, the family is housed, fed and safe from violence. 

“Gender-based crime is a serious and prevalent issue in our city. Seventy per cent of the work we do at Victim Services Toronto involves women,” says Carly Kalish, Executive Director, Victim Services Toronto. “It is our mission to create a thriving community where people are safe, supported and empowered. The five S.A.F.E.R. steps provide a quick and easy reminder of the action we can take today as a community to stay informed and fight gender-based crime together. We ask Torontonians to join us by learning and sharing these steps.”