Violence Against Women in Canada & COVID-19 Pandemic

Many women in Canada continue to face violence every day. Structural social inequalities, including sexism, racism, homophobia, classism, ageism, ableism, and many other factors, perpetuate violence against women (VAW). Since the lockdown began, there has been an increase in cases of VAW and this has a profound impact on women.

This is the fourth fact sheet from the Women and COVID-19 series. Using feminist intersectional analysis, this fact sheet explores the issue of VAW in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Included are an overview of the factors that deepen women’s risk to violence during the pandemic, of the rise in VAW during the pandemic, as well as existing responses, challenges and recommended next steps to ending VAW in Canada. This fact sheet concludes the series.