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Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Child Welfare

This guide is intended to offer resources, research, and tools regarding gender-based violence.

About this Guide

This guide intends to provide child welfare workers with resources, research, and tools to increase understanding on gender-based violence (GBV).

Note on Terminology

In order to recognize the intersections and complex nuances of types of violence, OACAS uses Gender-Based Violence as an umbrella term which includes:

  • Domestic violence/intimate partner violence
  • Family violence
  • Violence against older women (from any type of aggressor)
  • Workplace violence (co worker/colleague)
  • Child abuse/neglect
  • Femicide (gender-based killings; may be IPV, family, acquaintance, neighbour, unknown, etc.)
  • Technology-facilitated violence (may be in the context of IPV, family violence, etc. or from an online group)
  • Human trafficking/sexual exploitation
  • Systemic violence (violence from systems/service providers, forced migration, etc.)
  • Stalking/harassment in non IPV contexts/rejected relationships

GBV is disproportionately experienced by women, girls, trans-identified, non-binary and gender-diverse individuals. Although men and boys also experience gender-based violence, they are less likely to experience the most severe types of violence (i.e. physical violence requiring emergency medical treatment, lethal violence). Gendered language helps to disrupt the invisibility of gender-based violence (OAITH, 2025). 

However, throughout this guide, you will come across external resources that use terms such as gender-based violence, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, family violence, and violence against women. To learn more about the differences between these terms, please visit the Gender-Based Violence Learning Network Glossary

Understanding GBV

Definitions and Statistics

Understanding Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Violence Against Women (VAW)

Understanding Violence Against Men 

Understanding Women Who Use Violence

Understanding Information Sharing and Privacy in GBV Situations

Understanding the Impacts on Survivors and Children

GBV and Intersectional Identities

Intersectionality Definition(s)

Cultural Considerations

First Nations, Inuit, Métis (FNIM) Communities 

Black Communities 

2SLGBTQ+ Communities

People with Disabilities

Religious and Faith-Based Communities

Co-Occurrence of Trauma, IPV, Mental Health & Substance Use

Coercive Control

Technology and Violence

Risk Assessment and Safety Planning

Risk Assessment

The following section offers resources to understand various risk assessment tools; however, training is required to use them in practice.

Safety Planning

Engaging Those Who Cause Harm

Trauma-Informed Approaches, Practices, and Frameworks

GBV Services in Ontario