Violence Against Women Declines

Rates of spousal abuse against women in Nova Scotia are declining, according to a new provincial report released today. Family Violence and Personal Safety: Women in Nova Scotia is the third report in a statistical series produced by the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

"This report offers a significant review of the situation in Nova Scotia," said Jane Purves, minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. "In order to ensure that policies and funding continue to meet women's needs, we need data and an understanding of the barriers that still exist."

"Some progress has occurred to improve women's personal safety, but many challenges remain," said Rita Warner, advisory council chair. "While the percentage of women who report domestic violence to the police has almost doubled to 36 per cent from 19 per cent, the majority still suffer in silence."

Key findings of the report include a five per cent decline in rates of spousal abuse since 1993. Rates of reported sexual assault have also declined. Possible reasons for the decline may be related to the increased availability of services for abused women and programs for abusive men, increased use of these services and increased reporting of violence to police, deterring future violence.

Though the majority of both women and men in Canada report they feel safe from crime generally, women are more likely to feel unsafe in certain circumstances, like walking or using public transportation alone after dark.

While some of the findings are encouraging, other figures suggest the nature and consequences of violence are more severe for female victims. Half of all women killed between 1993 and 1998 died at the hands of their intimate partners. Ethno-cultural factors were also found to play a role. Aboriginal women are three times more likely to have experienced spousal violence than non-Aboriginal women.

"Violence against women is no longer perceived as an individual problem, but rather as a crime and a policy issue," said Ms. Warner. "It is a complex problem, which is present in all segments of Canadian society, and has no racial, cultural or religious boundaries."

The report is available by contacting the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women at 902-424-8662, or toll-free at 1-800-565-8662. It is also available on the council's Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/staw .