Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) is any violence directed towards or against someone due to their gender expression, gender identity or perceived gender.

Who is at risk

Anyone can be affected by GBV. However^{Footnote 1}:

Women, girls, Indigenous peoples and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community are more at risk of experiencing GBV
Factors such as age, geographic location, socioeconomic background and ethnicity can contribute to unique challenges that put certain populations at particular risk

In Canada^{Footnote 2}:

Women have a 20% higher risk of being victimized than men
Indigenous women reportedly experience spousal violence at a rate three times higher than non-Indigenous women. For women, Indigenous identity is a key risk factor for experiencing violence
Transgender and gender diverse people are nearly twice as likely as cisgender women to experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes
Lesbian, gay or bisexual individuals are three times more likely than heterosexual people to report experiencing violence

If you or someone you know is a victim/survivor of GBV, help is available to you.

Gender-based violence:

influences health, social and economic conditions of victims/survivors
can impact a survivor's relationships with their family and in their community, particularly due to ongoing isolation of victims/survivors and their children
increases the risk of social isolation; community and family ostracism can place victims/survivors of GBV at greater social and economic risk
prevents individuals from reaching their full potential
increases the risks of substance abuse, depression or anxiety, chronic physical or mental illness, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections

It is against the law to harm or threaten to harm another person, or to engage in harassing conduct as defined in the Criminal Code of Canada.
All forms of discrimination against a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or expression are prohibited under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

When it comes to GBV, the RCMP has a mandate to:

enforce the law and support victims/survivors
help foster crime prevention initiatives that focus on GBV
support the Government of Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

The RCMP recognizes the importance of trauma-informed interventions. All RCMP employees undergo training on cultural awareness and humility.