November is Family Violence Prevention Month
Alberta has the third-highest family violence rate in Canada, a disheartening fact that highlights the importance of raising awareness and working together to prevent family violence. November is Family Violence Prevention Month in Alberta, a local initiative that aims to spread education and provide support services to family violence victims.
In this article, we’ll take a dive into the details of family violence, the different types, prevention, and how family lawyers in Calgary, like Jones Divorce & Family Law, can help.
The History of Family Violence Prevention Month
Family Violence Prevention Month first started in 1986 in the town of Hinton, launched by four Albertans. The initiative began as an education and prevention campaign to start the conversation about family violence, which is often unreported out of fear and shame. Many times, victims suffer in silence and don’t know where to turn or how to end the cycle.
The campaign inspired the government of Alberta to recognize Family Violence Prevention Month as a provincial initiative for the month of November. Today, hundreds of Alberta communities, organizations, and thousands of individuals are actively involved in helping prevent family violence through public education and services.
About Family Violence Month
Though the terms “family violence” and “domestic abuse” are often used interchangeably, distinctions exist within family law. Domestic abuse typically refers to an individual committing abuse against an intimate partner, while family violence encompasses a broader range of offences committed by a family member against another family member. Family violence takes various forms, including:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Financial abuse
- Intimate partner violence
- Child abuse and neglect
- Elder abuse
As family lawyers in Calgary, we frequently handle cases involving family violence, impacting spouses, children, grandparents, and extended family members. Our dedication extends beyond legal representation to raising awareness and supporting victims of family violence.
How to Observe Family Violence Prevention Month
This year’s theme for Family Violence Prevention Month is ‘Learn Where to Turn’. Join us in encouraging victims of family violence and helping family and friends learn what resources are available to them within their community. Show your support by sharing:
- The toll-free Family Violence Info line (310-1818) is available to Albertans 24/7 in over 170 languages
- The Family Violence Info Line chat, available 24/7 in English
- Alberta Emergency shelters are open throughout the province
To help raise awareness:
- Use the hashtag #WhereToTurn on social media
- Wear purple and tag #GoPurpleAb on social media
- Participate in a Family Violence Prevention Month event
- Donate to or volunteer at a shelter
- Read about family violence statistics and learn the warning signs
Family Violence Prevention Starts With Education
As Calgary family lawyers, we hear individuals express that they would never have thought they would experience family violence. The grim reality is that it can happen to anyone. In Canada:
- 50% of women have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
- Every six days, a woman is killed by her intimate partner.
- 74% of people personally know at least one woman who has experienced physical sexual abuse. This number does not factor in women who don’t tell anyone about the assault, men who experience sexual assault, and any other types of abuse besides physical and sexual violence.
- Aboriginal women are killed at six times the rate of non-aboriginal women.
- An estimated $7.4 billion is spent each year for the aftermath of domestic violence alone, including health care, social services, criminal justice, and lost wages.
Sometimes, people don’t acknowledge family violence because it’s not physical. The Alberta government has provided a resource about family violence to help individuals learn about the different forms of abuse and recognize when it’s happening to them or a friend or family member.
If you or someone you know is experiencing physical, verbal, emotional, financial or sexual abuse, it’s important to reach out and seek help.
The content provided in the blog posts of Jones Divorce & Family Law is general information and should not be considered legal advice. Please contact a lawyer for legal advice tailored to your specific situation. All articles are current as of their original publication date.
