SAFETY ALERT: If you are in danger, please use a computer in a safe place, or call 911. You can leave this site quickly by clicking on Quick Escape (note: this does not clear your browser history).
Note: If you have experienced family violence and are using a computer that is shared with your abuser, use extreme caution to clear your browser history when you are finished visiting this site. If you do not know how to clear your browser, search the help available for your particular browser or use a public computer if possible.
If you are in an abusive relationship, or you know someone who may be, call 1-877-977-0007 or text 204-792-5302 or 204-805-6682.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Gender-Based Violence Program
What is Family Violence?
Domestic Violence or
Family Violence? (PDF)
Family violence is actual or threatened physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse directed toward a family member.
It includes intimate partner abuse, as well as abuse that is directed to others in a family relationship, such as so-called honour-based violence.
An intimate relationship can be between people who are married, living together, dating, separated or divorced.
Violence can happen in any family and affects women and men of all ages, cultures, income levels, religions, professions and abilities.
Please note: Family violence is often referred to as "domestic violence" or "domestic abuse." The term "family violence" is used on this site.
About the Gender-Based Violence Program
The Gender-Based Violence Program (GBVP) plans and develops community programs that help stop family violence. The program provides funding to community-based organizations that offer special services for abused women and their children and for men living with family violence.
There are 33 agencies across Manitoba that provide help for people affected by family violence. These agencies include:
- 10 women’s shelters that provide emergency shelter and counselling for women and children who are victims of family violence (also find accommodations for men who require a safe place).
- A provincial toll free crisis line that automatically links you with the nearest shelter that will provide safety.
- nine women’s resource centers that provide information and referral, individual counselling and support groups for women, as well as children's programming.
- four residential second-stage housing programs that offer protective, affordable, long-term housing for women who leave an abusive relationship, but need more than just physical protection.
- 14 specialized programs that provide individual counselling, open and closed support groups, longer term counselling, training for other service providers, public education, supervised access services for parents and their children and couples counselling.
Common Types of Abuse - Definitions and Examples
| Physical | Unwanted physical contact - slapping, pinching, punching, pushing, kicking, hair-pulling, burning, biting or cutting. |
| Sexual | Unwanted sexual contact - sexual touching, forced sex, forced humiliating acts, offensive sexual comments, control of birth control, or being forced to watch or take part in sexual acts with a third party. |
| Psychological/ Emotional | Being forced by another person, to watch or take part in behaviour that is psychologically/emotionally harmful – threats, humiliation, put-downs, name-calling. |
| Financial | Use of financial information or other resources (ex: property, possessions) to control and cause harm to another person. |
| "Honour" Based Violence | Fear of or actual forced marriage, controlling sexual activity, false imprisonment, forced abortion, and death. |
Groups at Risk
People most likely to be abused are: women, children, older adults and persons with disabilities. Because these groups are often seen as having less power and control, they are often at greater risk. While personal or job stress, alcohol/drug use, financial hardships are not the cause of family violence, they can often make it worse. Family violence, including "honour"-based violence, cuts across all cultures, nationalities, faith groups and communities.
