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The Reality of Family Violence on Prince Edward Island

What is Family Violence?

Family Violence is abuse of power within relationships of family, trusts, or dependency. It always involves someone using their power over another person in a way that hurts that other person. It can include:

• homicide
• physical assault
• sexual assault
• emotional/psychological abuse
• neglect
• financial exploitation
• threats
• destruction of property/pets

Who are the Islanders who are being abused?

In the last year (1994) on PEI there were approximately:

• 363 women and children who used emergency shelter at Anderson House
• 5,624 calls for service to Transition House Association
• 1,024 reports of child abuse/neglect investigated by Child & Family Services
• 110 investigations under the Adult Protection Act
• 892 calls to the Child Abuse Line
• 636 victims of crime who were seen by Victim Services, of whom 188 were victims of wife assault

The PEI Government has endorsed the following basic principles on Family Violence:

• No single individual, agency or system can effectively respond to Family Violence. There must be a commitment to work effectively respond to Family Violence together towards violence free communities.
• An effective response must also include increased awareness and a change in public attitudes.
• Violence in relationships is not acceptable.
• Special attention must be given to respect the survivor's capacities for self-determination.
• Offenders should be held accountable for their behaviour and treatment options be available to them.
• Everyone is entitled to live in a safe environment.
• Everyone is entitled to accessible quality and consistent services.
• An effective and humane response requires a shared philosophy and a coordinated community strategy.
• The response to family violence must include elements of intervention, treatment and prevention.

What do Islanders Want?

The people of PEI have said very clearly that they want the violence to STOP in our families. They want people to be safe and protected. In the Partner's for Prevention Final Report, the community have said that they want:

• support for community based programs
• regular information sharing across PEI
• family violence prevention efforts at community, regional and provincial levels
• services to be available for victims, survivors, and offenders across the Island
• more public education and awareness
• more training for everyone
• focus on issues related to children

Why is it so hard for Islanders to talk about Family Violence?

Our PEI community still finds it very hard to believe that family violence is so prevalent here:

• it has been a secretive and hidden crime and we often don't want to believe that it can happen to our own friends and family
• it is not always easy to understand what causes people in intimate relationships to hurt each other
• it is often easier to say "it's not my problem"

Whose responsibility is it to prevent Family Violence in PEI?

It is everyone's responsibility to prevent family violence including individuals, families, community members, service providers, and all levels of government.

This article is excerpted from thecommunity brochure of the same title. For more information contact:

Health and Community Services Agency
PO Box 2000, 4 Sydney Street
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N8
Tel: (902) 368-6130 Fax: (902) 368-6136 or
Community Legal Information Assoc.
Tel: (902) 892-0853 Fax: (902) 368-5355