Violence against women is an epidemic that doesn’t pause for the holidays.

Intimate partner, domestic, or sexualized violence can escalate during this time, making a safety plan is essential. Here’s what you need to know.

Violence against women doesn’t pause for the holidays—it’s an epidemic that persists year-round.

The holiday season often brings increased pressure on women to create joy, hold everything together, and ensure family gatherings are successful. Unfortunately, this is also a time when abusive partners may escalate their behaviour, creating chaos, conflict, and harm.

If an abusive partner destroys the holiday experience, know this: it’s not your fault. Their actions are a choice, not a reflection of your efforts or worth.

Having a safety plan during this time is essential to protect yourself and those you care about.

Planning for safety can be one way to take back power in abusive relationships.

Although you can’t control a partner’s use of violence/abuse, planning for safety can help you evaluate, define options and opportunities for liberation and safety.

If you’re in an abusive relationship, the risk of lethal violence increases during or just after leaving an abusive partner, therefore planning for safety is critical.

A personalized safety plan is a practical plan that includes ways to remain safe while in a relationship, planning to leave, or after you leave and if you return to an abusive relationship.

Please see our interactive safety plan including safety planning:

with children

with pets

while pregnant

with technology

in the workplace

with a protective order

with drug & alcohol use

with emotional health

and more…