Combating Spousal Violence in the Muslim Community of Canada: An Overview in the context of the Province of Ontario
Publisher: Journal of Humanities and Social Science
Date Published: 2015
Languages: English
The toolkit begins by providing demographic information about the Muslim population in Canada, emphasizing its growth and diversity.
It defines spousal abuse and outlines various forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional, criminal, economic, and spiritual abuse.
The prevalence of domestic violence in Canada is discussed, emphasizing its widespread impact on individuals and society.
The toolkit recognizes unintended victims, particularly children, who witness or hear spousal violence.
Main Contribution
Abstract: Spousal violence impediments women’s well being and overall development, i.e. it has direct consequences for women’s health-physical, mental, sexual and reproductive as well as economic costs, and afterwards adverse effects on psychological development of children. In every country where large-scale studies have taken place, domestic violence has been found to be by far the most common, wide-spread and far-reaching form of gender-based violence. Likewise, domestic violence is a serious social problem in Canada. Statistics Canada reveals that nearly 653,000 Canadian women have experienced some form of domestic violence in their life and that 60% of female homicides are a result of family violence. As Muslim population is the fastest growing religion in Canada, they are not an exception to it. The majority of Canadian Muslims live in the province of Ontario. This paper examines the socio-legal resources at hand of the Muslim women in Ontario, Canada to defend spousal violence.
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The toolkit is relevant for a wide audience, including members of the Muslim community in Canada, religious leaders, policymakers, social workers, law enforcement, and individuals concerned about combating spousal violence.
It aims to raise awareness and provide resources for addressing spousal violence within the Muslim community.
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Community workshops: Conduct workshops within Muslim communities to educate individuals about spousal violence, its various forms, and available resources for support.
Religious leaders' training: Train religious leaders to address spousal violence within the context of religious teachings, enabling them to guide and support community members.
Advocacy and awareness campaigns: Utilize the toolkit to create advocacy campaigns aimed at dispelling misconceptions, challenging cultural justifications, and promoting resistance against violence.
GBV Prevention
The toolkit addresses the specific issue of spousal violence within the Muslim community in Canada.
It recognizes the growing Muslim population in the country and the need to address spousal violence within this context.
The toolkit acknowledges that violence against women occurs in all communities, including Muslim communities, and aims to provide information and strategies to prevent and combat spousal violence.
It highlights the role of religion and culture in justifying violence against women, emphasizing the need to challenge and resist such distortions of religious teachings.
Creating Normative Change
The toolkit aims to create normative change by challenging the misuse of religion and culture to justify violence.
It acknowledges the role of religion in distorting sacred texts and emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context and true teachings of faith traditions.
It rejects the use of religion or culture as an excuse for violence and advocates for resistance against such justifications.
The toolkit encourages a diverse and inclusive approach, recognizing the socio-economic, cultural, and national diversity within the Muslim community.
How it could be adapted to the communities
Cultural sensitivity: Adapt the toolkit to reflect the specific cultural nuances and challenges faced by different Muslim communities in Canada.
Interfaith collaboration: Collaborate with organizations representing different faiths to create an inclusive version of the toolkit that addresses spousal violence in a broader context.Regional customization: Tailor the toolkit to address regional differences within Canada, ensuring that it resonates with diverse communities across provinces.
Keywords
Spousal abuse, Religion and culture, Normative change, Violence prevention, Inclusivity, Religious teachings, Cultural justifications
