Domestic Violence In Canada

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Each year, an estimated 3 to 10 million children witness assaults against a parent by an intimate partner.(Straus, 1992) Domestic violence does not discriminate across lines of race, culture, nationality or gender. It occurs at the same rate in both homosexual and heterosexual relationships (Mills et al., 2000). The experience of family violence can be among the most disturbing for children because both victims and aggressors are the adults who care for them and who are most closely attached to them. For many of these children, violence interrupts their experience of consistent safety and care, and creates an environment of uncertainty and helplessness. Children who are exposed to domestic violence, especially repeated incidents of violence,…show more content…
In 1990 the number of cases reported in Canada was 19 544; by 1992 Canadians began to see the abuse a more serious problem and the cases reported increased to 21 077 that year. This marked increase in the number of reports shows how much more seriously people feel about child abuse and how they are accepting their responsibility to report it. In 1985 Canada introduced certain laws that gave people responsibility for reporting child abuse. For example, Ontario's "Child and Family Service Act" states, " Every person who believes on reasonable grounds that a child is or may be in need of protection must report promptly the belief and the information upon which it is based to a Children's Aid Society." The act also states special responsibilities imposed on professionals and officials to report abuse. "Professionals and officials have the same duty as any of the public to report a child's need for protection." However, the act recognizes that persons working closely with the children have a special awareness of children who may be in abusive situations. Thus, the legislation gives these professionals a particular reporting responsibility. These responsibilities are a big step and an important part of the battle against child abuse. If people fail to report child abuse they are liable on conviction up to a fine of a thousand dollars. After a report is made a Children's Aid Society worker will investigate the case immediately, and they have the right to remove the child if the child is not safe. Any person who reports a case of child abuse does not have to reveal their identity for reasons of safety, although the Children's Aid Society does prefer to know who you are so that they can contact you for further information. If a person who has reported a case feels that their safety is threatened they will be provided with free legal

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