Domestic violence in Quebec: we must be able to detect “red flags”, insists a committee

The population remains too poorly equipped to identify the “red flags” which precede feminicides, deplores a committee which examined deaths in the context of domestic violence.

“When we look retrospectively at the context in which these murders occurred, we see that it is a chronicle of a death foretold,” summarizes the Journal Manon Monastesse, general director of the Federation of women’s shelters.

She is one of the members of the Coroner’s Office’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee, which was launched in 2017.

Its third report, released Thursday, presents 32 recommendations which concern both the protection of children and measures to facilitate moving as well as the role of health professionals.

We scrutinize 16 events leading to 24 deaths, i.e. 14 homicides and 10 suicides, some of which were victims.

For example, in the vast majority of cases, “we observe a loss of control by the aggressor over the victim,” we read in the report.

“The high frequency of this risk factor reminds us of the importance of knowing and recognizing the coercive control at work in the dynamics of domestic violence,” write the authors, calling for greater awareness among the population.

Dangerous separations

It should be noted that three-quarters of the events studied “occurred in a context of imminent or recent separation. In two cases, cohabitation continued after separation.

Women and their loved ones should be able to recognize that the situation is getting worse and seek help, the report says.

For Manon Monastesse, the public must also be able to identify the famous “red flags” in an attacker. At the top of the list: physical, sexual or psychological violence that occurred in previous relationships.

Moreover, five cases identified by the committee concerned attackers who had a criminal record for domestic violence. They had managed to hide their situation from their new flame or at least hide the details from them.

This information can, however, “help potential victims make different decisions in their life course, and reduce the risk of exposing themselves to losing their freedom in a relationship marked by coercive control leading to the worst consequences of domestic violence”, explains the report.

The committee also calls on the Ministry of Justice to facilitate access to criminal records.

Firearms

The numerous recommendations target several other entities, such as the ministries of Public Security and Immigration, but also the professional orders of doctors and nurses, which are invited to train their members in order to detect the signs that a woman is experiencing domestic violence.

The Quebec Firearms Controller is also involved, since 10 of the 24 deaths are due to firearm injuries.

“In all of these events, the files do not reveal any indication of recourse to the provisions allowing the removal of firearms from a person who is dangerous to himself or to others,” the authors point out.

In their opinion, “it would be essential to make better known” 1-800 731-4000, a confidential line where a worrying situation on this subject can be revealed.