Families and violence in Punjabi and Tamil communities in Toronto

The main research goal was to identify the extent to which family violence is pre-existing, due to cultural/indigenous factors, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, due to structural/institutional stresses resulting from immigration and settlement. [...] Specifically, the project contributes to the exploration of the question: “What are the barriers and pathways to societal integration of immigrants and refugees?”. [...] Family violence presents a significant barrier to the integration of some members of immigrant families through loss of health (and in extreme cases, loss of life), loss of dignity and self-esteem, loss of potential and actual human capital (in loss of education and work time and opportunities), and loss of family and community support (due to ostracism, stigmatization, and racism). [...] Family violence in immigrant communities adds directly to the costs of immigration and settlement through increased health care and legal costs to the individuals and society. [...] The aim is to assist government and community organizations in their provision of services and counseling to both victims and perpetrators of violence.