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The number of reports received at Quebec’s youth protection department related to exposure to domestic violence increased 15 per cent last year and has more than doubled in 10 years, going from around 8,000 in 2014 to just over 17,000 in 2023.
In 2023, reports of exposure to domestic violence accounted for 12.5 per cent of all reports received, which represents one in eight reports or 47 reports per day, according to the annual report of Quebec directors of youth protection.
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Overall, the number of reports was down slightly, 0.9 per cent, in 2023.
“It’s been two years in a row that reports have been in slight decline, after almost a decade of increase. We cannot yet speak of a trend after two years, but we can say that it is on a downward slope,” said Catherine Lemay, Quebec’s national director of youth protection, in an interview.
According to her, this indicator demonstrates all the efforts that are made to address the problems experienced by children and their families before they deteriorate.
Protection services retained 47 per cent of reports related to exposure to domestic violence for further evaluation, compared to 31 per cent for all reports.
The annual report says “these increases may reflect increased attention, greater understanding of the phenomenon and better identification on the part of all those involved in violence against women and children.” However, domestic violence is “very real in our society” and there has been an increase in the number of femicides in recent years.
The report says children 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 behaviour, or problems at school.
“Globally, domestic violence occurs across all socioeconomic, religious and cultural groups, and requires concerted work and constant vigilance,” the report says. “To achieve this, we need the entire population. As important 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.”
In 2023-2024, 100,258 children were the subject of at least one report to the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ), or 6.13 per cent of people under 18 years old. Of them, 35,791 (2.19 per cent) were the subject of at least one report retained for evaluation.
In total, 20 per cent of children were taken into care because of psychological mistreatment and 12 per cent because they were victims of physical abuse or seriously at risk of being so.
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