The number of reports received at the Youth Protection Department (DPJ) for reasons of exposure to domestic violence has more than doubled in 10 years, going from around 8,000 in 2014 to just over 17,000 in 2023.
This represents an increase of 14.7% in reports linked to exposure to domestic violence compared to 2022, shows the annual report of directors of youth protection/provincial directors of Quebec.
In 2023, reports of exposure to domestic violence accounted for 12.5% of all reports received, which represents one in eight reports or 47 reports per day.
Overall, there is a slight decrease (-0.8%) in all reports in 2023. Protection services retained 47% of reports related to exposure to domestic violence for in-depth assessment, compared to 31%. for all reports.
In the report, it is explained that “these increases may reflect increased attention, greater understanding of the phenomenon and better identification on the part of all actors concerned by violence against women and children”. However, we qualify that the problem of domestic violence is “very real in our society”, emphasizing that there has been an increase in the number of feminicides in recent years.
The report indicates that children who are exposed to domestic violence are likely to face psychological disorders, including intrusive thoughts and fears, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, difficulty establishing meaningful relationships, aggressive behavior, or problems at school.
It is also explained that a child who grows up in a climate of domestic violence has a greater risk of being “a victim of physical abuse and of being subjected to unreasonable educational practices”.
“For us, DPJ, the exposure of children to domestic violence is a very serious issue. Globally, domestic violence occurs across all socioeconomic, religious and cultural groups, and requires concerted work and constant vigilance. To achieve this, we need the entire population. As significant adults to these children and their parents and as witnesses, you are also part of the solution. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes an entire society to protect them,” the report reads.
In 2023-2024, 100,258 children were the subject of at least one report, or 6.13% of young people aged 0 to 17. Of this number, 35,791 children (2.19%) were the subject of at least one report retained for evaluation.
When a child’s situation is reported to the DYP, stakeholders are required to evaluate this situation using an analysis grid predefined by law. For reasons of compromised exposure to domestic violence, a specific analysis grid takes into account the particularities of these situations and imposes a change in practices, indicates the report.
The reasons which most often justify support are the same as in previous years. In total, 20% of children were taken into care because of psychological mistreatment and 12% because they were victims of physical abuse or seriously at risk of being so.
It should be noted that exposure to domestic violence has been a distinct reason for psychological mistreatment since April 26, 2023. Treatment for psychological mistreatment for 2023-2024 includes situations of exposure to domestic violence which have been reported before this date.
“I consider that we are working very hard to improve our practices and allow better identification of controlling and dominating behaviors of violent parents, at all stages of the DPJ’s intervention, in order to place the interest of the child at the heart of our actions. Likewise, we know that in such circumstances, the primary interests of the child must take precedence over the rights of the parents,” declared Catherine Lemay, national director of youth protection, in the report.
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