About abuse

Abuse often occurs as a result of the perpetrator's desire for power and control. In order to establish and maintain this control, the abuser uses violence and intimidation to instil fear in the victim.

When this abuse occurs in a home or between people who are dating, living together, or are married, it is labelled ‘intimate partner violence.' Though men may also experience this form of violence, it is predominately women who are the victims of domestic violence and men, the perpetrators. Children can also bear the weight of domestic violence, either physically or emotionally.

While most people believe that abuse is mainly physical, this pattern of hurtful behaviour comes in many forms:

Physical abuse- being slapped, hit, punched, kicked, etc.

Sexual abuse - being touched in an unwanted manner, forced to have sex or look at sexual

pictures or videos, etc.

Emotional abuse - being threatened, name-called, belittled, etc.

Neglect - being ignored, not having sufficient food, shelter, clothing, etc.