Ending Gender-Based Violence
Every day, people in our community face violence because of their gender, gender expression or gender identity. Gender-based violence is a public safety and public health crisis that requires immediate and collective action at all levels.
YWCA BC is working towards a future that is free from gender-based violence.
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It’s a human rights violation. Everyone has the right to live free from violence and abuse.
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It costs women their lives. A woman or girl is killed every other day in Canada because of their gender.
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It intersects with other forms of oppression. Gender-based violence disproportionately impacts Indigenous women and girls, 2SLGBTQIA+ people and women living with disabilities.
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It has long-term, intergenerational effects on children who witness abuse.
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It’s pervasive. One in two women say they’ve experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
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It’s costly. Gender-based violence costs taxpayers and the government billions of dollars each year.
Gender-based violence cost BC $1.12 billion every year, YWCA report finds
Our report, The Cost of Inaction: Measuring the Economic Impact of Gender-Based Violence in BC, showed us that when we don't address gender-based violence, it costs us.
We know that gender-based violence reduces economic productivity, destabilizes families, and increases spending on health care, policing and justice. We also know that data on gender-based violence is extremely limited, and the costs are likely much higher. Not only does preventing gender-based violence improve the safety and health of our communities, it's a smart financial decision too.
Read our full report and learn how you can help us advocate for action on gender-based violence.
Join our advocacy
47% of BC women reported experiencing any form of gender-based violence, including psychological, emotional, financial, physical or sexual. (Source: Statscan)
We are advocating for municipal and provincial governments in British Columbia to declare Gender-based violence the epidemic that it already is.
