Child Abuse in Canada

Updated January 21, 2009

Childhood is meant to be a time to learn and grow in the context of a safe and enlivening atmosphere. Those children who suffer abuse, whether at the hands of family members, family friends or complete strangers, have their safe environment shattered.

All statistics are taken from Statistics Canada. (2008). Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile, 2008. Ottawa: Minister of Industry. pp. 26-28. Retrieved January 21, 2009 at http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/85-224-XIE/85-224-XIE2008000.pdf

• In 2006, for every 100,000 young persons under 18 years of age, 792 reported being either physically or sexually assaulted compared to a rate of 714 among adults

• In 2006, for every 100,000 teens aged 12-17 1,548 reported being either physically or sexually assaulted compare to a rate of 792 for children and youth under the age of 18.

• In 2006, the rate of police-reported sexual assaults against children and youth was over 5 times higher than it was for adults (190 compared to 35).

• For every 100,000 young persons under the age of 18, 334 were victims of physical or sexual violence by a friend or an acquaintance, 187 experienced violence by a family member, and 101 were victimized by a stranger.
  
  
• Children and youth were more likely to have been physically assaulted by a parent than sexually assaulted. The rate of physical assault by a parent was more than 3 times higher than the rate of sexual assault (83 compared to 24 victims per 100,000 children and youth).
  
  
• The rate of sexual assault against children and youth committed by family members was 4 times higher for girls than for boys (102 compared with 25 incidents per 100,000 population).