State of Economic Abuse

Removing structural barriers and systemic challenges that hinder Economic Abuse survivors from taking agency over their lives

About The Report

Economic Abuse, a form of domestic violence, involves coercive tactics that control, exploit, and sabotage victims’ resources, eroding their autonomy, empowerment, and financial security. This report sheds light on the prevalence, nature, and impact of Economic Abuse, emphasizing that it often co-occurs with physical and sexual abuse, disproportionately affecting women, with estimates indicating that one in three women experience Economic Abuse during their lifetime.
The report evaluates the current state of research and policy on Economic Abuse in Canada and globally. It particularly emphasizes the unique impact of Economic Abuse on Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) individuals, refugee, immigrants, physically challenged women, and communities.
The report concludes by presenting recommendations derived from CCFWE’s national consultations, community based research and roundtables focusing on four key themes:

Government Policy & Structures

  • 1. Recognize and formalize the inclusion of Economic Abuse in policy and legislative definition.
  • 2. Amend banking policies to better support Economic Abuse survivors.
  • 3. Amend bankruptcy laws to support Economic Abuse survivors.
  • 4. Amend family law legislation and policies to remove barriers in the legal system for victims.
  • 5. Allocate funds for a grant-giving scheme for women who are leaving an abusive partner and seeking to rebuild their lives.
  • 6. Allocate public funds to improve access to and quality of family law services, mental health, and childcare.
  • 7. Allocate funds to micro-enterprise and entrepreneurship programs.
  • 8. Allocate funds for Friendship Centres to support First Nations survivors.
  • 9. Eradicate systemic and structural racism in institutions and support women’s financial empowerment initiatives.

Download the full report here (PDF). Read the full report Flip Book here

Economic Institutions Policy, Structures & Practices.

  • 1. Provide financial institution staff with training on domestic violence and Economic Abuse to better assist survivors.
  • 2. Provide free and accessible credit repair and debt remediation services for survivors.
  • 3 .Ensure that survivors are formally released from debts by creditors.
  • 4. Provide access to translation and interpretation services for non-English or French speakers who may be affected by family/ domestic violence.
  • 5. Develop trauma-informed, culturally sensitive financial literacy training.
  • 6. Develop Voluntary Financial Code Codes of Conduct, banking policies, and procedures to include a system to identify and support Economic Abuse survivors.
  • 7 .Establish trauma-informed micro-enterprise or entrepreneurship programs.

Download the full report here (PDF). Read the full report Flip Book here

Research and Evidence

  • 1. Collect demographic data and research on Economic Abuse as a form of intimate partner violence in Canada.

Social Service Programs

  • 1. Ensure accessibility to information regarding family law procedures and women’s rights for both survivors and service providers.
  • 2. Improve access to legal aid services for survivors.
  • 3. Incorporate financial education for young women in high school curricula.
  • 4. Support settlement organizations to provide assistance to refugees, newcomers, and immigrants.
  • 5. Create materials and tools to identify victims for support for frontline workers.
  • 6. Build a layered support system where social service organizations, settlement agencies, community leaders, and Friendship Centres work together to offer better support to survivors.
  • 7. Create a domestic violence court system for survivors.
  • 8 .Include social workers, health care workers, and immigration/ settlement counselors when responding to domestic violence.
  • 9. Work with Indigenous communities to develop culturally relevant and appropriate responses to Economic Abuse.
  • 10. Establish collaborative partnerships with organizations actively engaged with employers, with a particular emphasis on addressing Economic Abuse.


These recommendations aim to address the multifaceted issue of Economic Abuse, fostering a more comprehensive, inclusive, and supportive response to this form of domestic violence in Canada.

“The State of Economic Abuse in Canada: Championing Financially Strong Futures for Survivors” establishes the groundwork for future advocacy efforts. It outlines actionable steps that CCFWE and other stakeholders will undertake to formulate a substantial policy response aimed at preventing and responding to Economic Abuse.

We hope that this report will be of benefit to the following stakeholders:

  • Victim-survivors
  • Immigration/ settlement counselors
  • Healthcare workers
  • Family violence service providers
  • Local and national governments
  • Family lawyers, legal clinics, Consumer lawyers
  • Researchers and academics
  • Women’s community organizations
  • Financial institutions
  • Utilities and essential service providers
  • Criminal justice system (police, prosecutors, judiciary)
Person project team
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Listening & Learning Participants
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Listening & Community Consultations
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National Taskforce for Women Economic Justice Advisory Committee
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Policy Recommendations
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For more information, please contact us Info@ccfwe.org

Resources:

State of Economic Abuse Launch Video:

Dedication “Honoring the Resilient Hearts”

This report is dedicated to the survivors who took the time to participate in the CCFWE’s focus group and survivors’ round table. We thank you for sharing your truth about how deeply your own experiences have motivated you to want to help others. Quotes and stories from these focus groups and round tables are used and cited throughout this report to reinforce the impacts of Economic Abuse. We acknowledge the many women survivors of intimate partner violence. We recognize their courage, strength, acts of resistance, and resilience.

In honor of those who have endured the silent torment of Economic Abuse, this dedication is a tribute to your resilience and unwavering strength. To the survivors who have risen from the depths of shadow, this is for you. Your courage in the face of adversity inspires us all, a reminder that the human spirit can endure, overcome, and thrive. May this dedication symbolize our collective support and commitment to ending Economic Abuse, ensuring a brighter, more empowered future for all.

Acknowledgments

We also acknowledge support agencies working with victims/survivors on their journey to safety, recovery, and prevention.

We would like to acknowledge the many women who have survived intimate partner violence and recognize their courage, strength, and acts of resistance and resilience.

We thank the Minister for Women and Gender Equality of Canada for making the funding available for this vital work.


Funded by the Government of Canada and Women and Gender Equality Canada.

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Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment

Ottawa, Canada
Corp no 1187774-7
info@ccfwe.org

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We recognize that the Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment is located on unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation. We extend our respect to all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples for their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

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