Understanding Gender Based Violence

The Roots of Gender-Based Violence

Violence against Indigenous women and gender-diverse people is deeply connected to colonization, forced assimilation, and cultural genocide. These historic and ongoing harms have created multigenerational patterns of behaviour, beliefs, and attitudes that weaken the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

According to the United Nations, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) refers to harmful acts directed at a person because of their gender. It is rooted in:

  • Gender inequality

  • Abuse of power

  • Harmful social norms

GBV disproportionately affects women, girls, Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary people. It can include:

  • Sexual, physical, or emotional abuse

  • Economic control or deprivation

  • Threats, coercion, and manipulation

  • Violence in both public and private spaces

(UWACR, UN Women)

Art by: Lexee Lindberg

“When we are born our spirits are pure and whole. During our journey through life, our spirit may encounter abuse and neglect. Everyone has the right to have their spirit protected, and the responsibility to take care of the sacredness of life.”

— Kanawayhitowin

What GBV Looks Like

Gender-Based Violence includes any harm, behaviour, or practice targeting someone because of their gender identity, gender expression, or perceived gender. This may involve:

  • Physical violence

  • Domestic or intimate partner abuse

  • Sexual assault

  • Psychological abuse

  • Cyber abuse or online harassment

  • Economic abuse or control

GBV is made worse by systemic inequalities such as:

  • Colonialism and racism

  • Sexism

  • Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

  • Ableism and classism

  • Poverty

  • Collective histories of trauma

GBV is a violation of human rights, an abuse of power, and it is preventable.

Art by: Betty Albert

Signs and Symptoms of GBV

Physical Symptoms
Gender-based violence often leaves visible signs. Common physical symptoms include:

  • Bruises, burns, fractures, or broken bones

  • Head injuries and internal injuries

  • Long-term disabilities such as paralysis, loss of limb function, or brain damage

  • Severe or fatal injuries, including traumatic brain injury and internal organ damage

Psychological Symptoms
GBV can have deep emotional and mental effects, including:

  • Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • Intense fear, helplessness, or horror

  • Depression and anxiety, with symptoms like sadness, hopelessness, and trouble sleeping, eating, or concentrating

  • Panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, or excessive worry about future violence

  • Substance use as a coping mechanism, which can lead to addiction

Art by: Betty Albert

The Impact of GBV

The effects can be devastating—both immediately and over time—impacting physical health, mental well-being, and relationships. Survivors may experience:

  • Anxiety and depression

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Difficulty engaging with others, communities, or services

How survivors are treated after the violence is critical to their healing. Insensitive responses from services or systems can cause further harm and slow recovery.

Art by: Serin Alar

Who Is Most at Risk

While violence can affect anyone, certain groups face higher risks due to overlapping forms of oppression, including:

  • Women and girls

  • Indigenous women and girls

  • 2SLGBTQQIA+ community members

  • Gender-diverse individuals

  • Women in Northern, rural, and remote communities

  • Women living with disabilities

When multiple risk factors are present, vulnerability to violence increases.

Art by: Simone McLeod

Moving Forward Together

Addressing Gender-Based Violence requires:

  • Confidentiality (within limits) to build trust

  • Consistency in action to show long-term commitment

  • Community tools and resources—like this toolkit—to support change

Art by: Simone McLeod

Statistics on Gender-Based Violence

(Sources: Statistics Canada, 2021; Government of Canada; Canadian Women’s Foundation; National Inquiry into MMIWG, and others)

Prevalence of Gender-Based Violence

  • Women in Canada are more likely than men to experience Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

  • 44% of women report experiencing some form of IPV in their lifetime (since age 15).

  • Nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide experience GBV (The World Bank).

  • 65% of Canadians know a woman who has experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Impact on Marginalized Groups

  • LGB+ women: 67% have experienced IPV since age 15 (vs. 44% for heterosexual women).

  • Indigenous women: 6–10 in every 10 have experienced IPV in their lifetime.

  • Indigenous women and girls are 12× more likely to be murdered or go missing than other women in Canada.

  • Rural women: Rates of IPV are 75% higher than urban women.

  • 2SLGBTQQIA+ community:

    • Twice as likely to experience sexual assault.

    • Less likely to report assaults to police.

    • Higher risk of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

  • Transgender people: More likely to experience violence since age 15 and inappropriate behaviours in public, online, and at work.

Lethal and Severe Violence

  • Every 6 days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner.

Cyber & Technology-Facilitated Violence

  • Digital abuse is a growing form of GBV, including online threats, harassment, and stalking.

  • 67% of those reporting online intimidation to police are women and girls.

  • 1 in 5 women report experiencing online harassment.

  • Girls and gender-diverse people face the most severe harassment and sexualized abuse online.

Global survey on online abuse impact (Plan International):

  • 24% felt physically unsafe.

  • 42% felt mentally/emotionally distressed.

  • 42% lost self-confidence.

  • 18% had problems at school.

  • 7% had difficulty finding/keeping a job.

  • 19% used social media less.

  • 12% stopped using social media entirely.