Background: Reports on family violence in immigrant communities indicate that the women rarely seek help because they fear stigma, family shame and losing their immigration status. Some of the women may even feel committed to trying to help their partners to work through their difficulties.
With English usually being a second language, women find it particularly difficult to navigate the bureaucracy that may help them. In addition, not all support workers are educated in handling cultural problems. Outreach, prevention and support programs are needed. Educational and information sessions need to be developed for both the victims and those assisting them.
With family abuse increasing, it has been calculated that the cost of violence against women in Canada for health care, criminal justice, social services and lost wages and productivity is $4.2 billion per year. In 2011 the Ontario government gave a $150,000 grant to help abused women in the South Asian community in Toronto. More such funding is needed.
REFERENCES:
Bhaggiyadda, T. Sri. Taking an Intersectional Approach: How We Can Improve Services for Newcomers Experiencing Violence”. Toronto, Springtide, 2012.
http://www.springtideresources.org/sites/all/files/IRWP%20Needs%20Assessment%20Summary%20Report.pdf Accessed on 30/01/13/
Canadian Press. “Ontario Grants $150K to South Asian Women’s Centre”. June 20,2011. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/06/22/ontario-south-asian-women-centre659.html Accessed 30/01/13
Chui, Tina. “Immigrant Women: a Gender-based Statistical Report”. Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 2011. (Statistics Canada—Catalogue no. 89-503-X) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-503-x/2010001/article/11528-eng.pdf Accessed 30/01/13
Peel Committee against Woman Abuse. “Woman Abuse Fact Sheet”. 2002’
http://www.settlement.org/downloads/Woman_Abuse_factsheet.pdf Accessed 30/01/13.
Statistics Canada. 2006 Census. “Immigrants Status and Period of Immigration”
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-557/T403-eng.cfm?Lang=E&T=403&GH=4&SC=1&S=99&O=A Accessed on 30/01/13.
Traber, Chris. “Outreach Needed: Report” (In “Era Banner”, Oct. 28, 2011) Retrieved as ProQuest document 902172714: http://search.proquest.com.exproxy.torontopubliclibrary.ca/docview/9021727?accountid=14369 Accessed 30/01/13
