The Evolution of Measuring Violence Against Women at Statistics Canada UN Global Forum on Gender Statistics December 10-12, 2007 Presented by Heather Dryburgh On behalf of the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada data sources to measure violence against women 1. Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (police data) 2. Homicide Survey 3. Victimization Surveys 4. Transition Home Survey 5. Victim Services Survey 6. Record linkage

Police statistics – Uniform Crime Reporting Survey l Collecting aggregate police statistics since l In 1988 began collecting micro data from police forces. u Victim and accused characteristics u Incident characteristics u Relationship of victim and accused

Women represent a large majority of all victims of spousal violence reported to the police, 2004 Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Revised Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2004 (84%) (16%)

Police statistics - Homicide Survey l Homicide Survey began in l Began collecting data on family-related homicides in l 1991 and 1997 revised and expanded u Previous conviction history u History of domestic violence u Victim’s use of force at time of incident

Rates of spousal homicide declined by half, Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Homicide Survey.

Risk of spousal homicide highest for young women, Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Homicide Survey, Rate per million

Advantages of police data l Annual statistics l Standard measure over time and among cities and provinces l Criminal Code definitions l Based on physical evidence and witnesses

Disadvantages of police data l Not representative of all crimes l Little information about victims, ie., characteristics, consequences, outcomes l Subject to changes in victim reporting, legislation, police policies, societal attitudes

Statistics Canada’s Victimization Surveys l General Social Survey on Victimization – 1988, 1993, 1999, 2004 F Improvements made to better measure sexual assault F Special modules to measure spousal violence F 2004 – Added a module to measure criminal harassment or stalking l National Survey on Violence Against Women

Objectives of Measuring Violence Against Women l Nature and extent of violence l Dimensions of women’s fear l Consequences and outcomes of violence l Use of police and other services l Theory testing, e.g. violence and pregnancy l Policy development

Rates of violence against women by relationship, since the age of 16 Violence Against Women Survey, 1993 Percent

Measuring Spousal Violence l Threatened to hit you in a way that could hurt you. l Threw something at you that could hurt you. l Pushed, grabbed or shoved you in a way that could hurt you. l Slapped you. l Kicked, bit, or hit you his/her fist. l Hit you with something. l Beaten you. l Choked you. l Use a gun/knife. l Sexual Assault.

Rates of wife assault by most serious type of violence Percent Violence Against Women Survey, 1993

Emotional abuse by current and previous spouses/common-law partners

Abuse report l Physical injury by type of injury l Sought medical attention, hospitalization l Stay in bed/Take time off l Partner’s alcohol use l Anyone else harmed or threatened, including kids l Children witnessed violence l Fear for life l Compensation l Police intervention - why reported or not, satisfaction with actions l Restraining orders l Use of informal and formal supports (reason not used) l Victim-offender mediation l Emotional impact of violence

Spousal violence more prevalent in previous unions Source: General Social Survey, 2004 % (5 years)

Women experience more serious types of violence Source: General Social Survey, 2004

Violence against women has more serious outcomes Source: General Social Survey, 2004

Transition Home Survey l Mail survey to all shelters (524) l Bi-annual l Characteristics of shelters and services l One-day snapshot of women and children residents

Victim Services Survey l Mail survey to all victim services (606) l Characteristics of victim services l One-day snapshot of victims provided service

Future efforts l Continue monitoring trends through police reported statistics. l Continue to include measures of spousal violence and criminal harassment on the GSS on Victimization (2009). l Continue to undertake the Transition Home Survey and Victim Services Survey. l Continue data linkage of police and courts files and move towards linking across systems to better understand case processing and outcomes of violence against women cases.