Quebec Urges Investment in Training to Prevent Domestic Violence Deaths

A Quebec Coroner's office committee is recommending investment in public awareness and professional training to prevent deaths linked to intimate partner violence, as femicide cases continue to climb this year.

The committee released its report Monday after studying 10 incidents of intimate partner violence involving 16 deaths: 2 murders, 12 murder-suicides, and 1 suicide. Both murder victims were women; five of the 12 murder-suicide victims were women. All perpetrators were men.

Quebec has recorded 10 femicides so far in 2026 and is expected to surpass last year's total. The World Health Organization calls violence against women a major and persistent public health issue globally.

The committee identified the most common risk factors as: a history of violence, loss of control over the victim, recent or impending separation, escalation of violence, victim fear, and substance abuse. Victims in most cases had contact with police or health-care services before their deaths.

The committee recommends the Secrétariat à la condition féminine and Conseil du statut de la femme increase public awareness campaigns and train witnesses about their responsibility toward victims and perpetrators. The Ministry of Justice should collaborate with SOS violence conjugale to provide resources in high-risk situations.

Santé Québec should develop education programs for medical students, social workers, and health professionals to better identify risks of homicide and suicide in domestic violence contexts. The Office des professions should remind professional orders when confidentiality clauses may not apply in preventing deaths.