Violence & Abuse Prevention

Canadian Red Cross

DIFFERENCES AND SIMIL ARITIES BETWEEN ABUSE,

BULLYING AND HARASSMENT
When considering how to respond to abuse, bullying and harassment, we must first understand
the underlying differences and similarities between these categories of behaviour.

ABUSE
(AND NEGLECT) BULLYING HARASSMENT
Basis for „ misuse of power „ misuse of power „ misuse of power
Violence
„ emotional abuse „ verbal „ racism
Types of „ physical abuse „ physical „ disability
Violence „ neglect „ relational harassment
„ sexual abuse „ reactive „ sexual
harassment
„ abuse of power
and authority
„ criminal harassment

Legislation „ Convention on „ CRC „ CRC

and Policies the Rights of „ Criminal Code „ Human rights
the Child (CRC) „ organization’s legislation:
„ provincial/ policies federal, provincial
territorial Child and territorial
Protection Acts „ Criminal Code
„ Criminal Code „ organization’s
„ organization’s policies
policies

Victims „ any child or „ any person, but „ any person in

youth as defined most frequently Canada 12 years
by Child are children and of age and older
Protection Acts youth „ male or female
„ male or female „ male or female

Perpetrators „ people who are „ any person, but „ any person in

in positions of most frequently Canada 12 years
trust and authority are children or of age and older
over children and youth „ male or female
youth „ male or female
„ male or female

Mandate „ protection issue „ relationship issue „ rights issue

„ justice issue if „ justice issue if „ justice issue if
criminality has criminality has criminality has
occurred occurred occurred

Philosophy „ victim is blameless „ victim is blameless „ victim is blameless

Fairholm and Ferguson, 2002

© Canadian Red Cross, 2006

Canadian Red Cross For more information, go to www.redcross.ca/RespectED