Police AssociAtion of novA scotiA 69 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Family Violence Initiative (FVI) is a horizontal initiative led by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The Family Violence Initiative Performance Report for April 2004 to March 2008, which has been prepared on behalf of all FVI member departments, highlights the key results that have been reached in this reporting period. The FVI is a long-term initiative to address a complex and deeply rooted problem. Its continuing mandate is to enhance awareness of family violence issues; build the knowledge base that will help to address these issues; and contribute to a strengthened ability of the justice, housing and health systems and communities across Canada to prevent and respond to family violence. Fifteen federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations participate in the FVI. The Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Department of Justice Canada, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Statistics Canada, and Status of Women Canada share an ongoing annual allocation of $7 million. This allocation serves to ensure the implementation of core activities deemed essential to the Initiative’s sustainability, including the operation of the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, a valuable source of information on family violence for all Canadians. These seven members, along with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, Department of National Defence, Health Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Public Safety Canada, and Service Canada, allocate additional resources for FVI-related activities from their regular budgets. Family violence takes many forms and may include acts of physical or sexual assault (as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada) as well as other forms of physical and sexual abuse and exploitation, financial exploitation, neglect, emotional abuse and spiritual abuse. Family violence undermines the health, safety, and quality of life and future prospects of many Canadians. Although police-reported incidents of spousal violence declined steadily between 1998 and 2006, there were still over 38,000 incidents of spousal violence reported across Canada, representing approximately 15 percent of all police-reported violent incidents in 2006. From 1977 to 2006, the rate of spousal homicide for both men and women has also steadily declined, following a pattern for homicide overall. Still, in 2006, policereported data indicate that 56 women and 22 men were killed by their spouses. The rates of violence against children have fluctuated over time; yet in 2006, according to policereported data, a total of 12,198 children and youth were victims of family-related (physical and sexual) assaults. While police-reported data have consistently shown that older adults (65 years of age and older) are the least likely of all age groups to be victims of violent crime, studies have shown that they are particularly vulnerable to various forms of abuse, such as emotional or psychological abuse, neglect or maltreatment, material exploitation or financial abuse, as well as physical assault and sexual assault. KEY PERFORMANCE RESULTS FROM APRIL 2004 TO MARCH 2008 From April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2008, the FVI made important gains in enhancing its collective capacity to horizontally manage and advance its work. In 2007, an umbrella Results-based Management and Accountability Framework (RMAF) was implemented. New tools, such as the FVI extranet website and the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence E-Bulletin (a bimonthly electronic newsletter) have enhanced communication among and across family violence stakeholders (federally and Canada-wide). The FVI worked effectively with all orders of government and stakeholders, fostering a supportive climate for dialogue and information sharing on policy and program initiatives to explore and address issues such as the health and social impacts of violence on victims, their families and communities; the interplay between homelessness and family violence; ways to strengthen systems and community services and supports to prevent and address family violence; and issues of specific concern to Aboriginal populations and other populations living in situations of risk or disadvantage. FAMILY VIOLENCE INITIATIVE PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR APRIL 2004 TO MARCH 2008 Department of Justice Canada According to police-reported data, a total of 12,198 children and youth were victims of family-related (physical and sexual) assaults. continued...
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