What Is Family Violence?

Family violence as defined by the Women’s Charter is as follows:

• willfully or knowingly placing or attempting to place a family member in fear of hurt
• causing hurt to a family member by an act which he or she ought to know would cause and result in hurt
• wrongful confining or restraining a family member against their will
• causing continual harassment with intent to cause anguish to a family member, including verbal abuse, psychological or emotional abuse.

The following acts are considered to be acts of family violence:

Physical abuse

• Physical acts such as punching, kicking, pushing, choking, slapping, bruising or hitting with objects
• Denial of food or water, sleep, shelter or medicine
• Unwanted sexual behavior such as forcing sexual activity on the family member, including one’s spouse

Psychological abuse

• Insulting or humiliating a person
• Intimidating a person by screaming, making threats, harassment or destroying property
• Emotional blackmail or using emotions to manipulate a person
• Demeaning a person in front of others or in public places
• Monitoring and controlling a person’s activities and relationships
• Persistent hostility, including ignoring or blatantly rejecting a person
• Confining a person within the home or stopping a person from going somewhere

Click on these links for more information

• Dealing with family violence
• What can I do if I’m facing family violence?
• Getting a Personal Protection Order (PPO)
• Making a Safety Plan
• How to help a friend/relative/neighbour facing family violence