RESOURCES
FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH
EVAN STARK
Introduced coercive control into the legal and academic conversation.
The foundational book:
Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life
Dr. Emma Katz
Research on Coercive Control and Children
Groundbreaking research into how coercive control affects mothers and children,
including her Five-Factor Framework
Research, Advocacy & Coercive Control Education
Lisa Aronson Fontes
Invisible Chains; Coercive Control Articles
Books and articles on emotional abuse and controlling behavior in intimate relationships.
Jane Monckton Smith
The Homicide Timeline; In Control
Researcher and criminologist specializing in the escalation patterns in abusive relationships.
Lundy Bancroft
Leading expert on abusive men and a powerful voice exposing the patterns of coercive control
behind domestic violence.
🕯️
Laws Introduced After the PREDICTABLE AND preventable Murders of Children
by their COERCIVE AND CONTROLLING FATHERS
Canada
Keira’s Law (Canada, 2023)
Named after Keira Kagan, a 4-year-old girl murdered by her father during a court-ordered visit despite prior abuse concerns. The law mandates education for judges on domestic violence, coercive control, and the impact of abuse on children.
Bill C‑332 - Sophie and Jacob Huyer and Zoe and Zachary in Ontario.
Calls for Criminalizing Coercive Control After Family Murders – Advocacy intensified after multiple Canadian children were killed during custody battles or by abusive ex-partners. These cases were key in pushing forward.
United States
Kayden’s Law (Pending U.S. Federal Legislation)
Named after Kayden Mancuso, a 7-year-old girl murdered by her father during unsupervised visitation. The bill aims to limit parental access in abuse cases and require judges to prioritize child safety over shared parenting. Passed as part of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization in 2022 but implementation varies by state.
Greyson’s Law (Florida, 2023)
Named after Greyson Kessler, a 4-year-old boy murdered by his father. The law strengthens the ability of courts to restrict access to children when there’s a pattern of threats, stalking, or psychological harm—even if no physical violence has occurred.
International
Hannah Clarke & Children – Coercive Control Reform (2020–2024)
Hannah Clarke and her three children were burned alive by her estranged husband in February 2020. Their deaths ignited a national reckoning around coercive control in Australia .
In July 2022, Queensland passed “Hannah’s Law” making coercive control a criminal offence—effective July 1, 2024 .The Clarke family’s story also inspired Small Steps 4 Hannah, a foundation and in-schools HALT program to teach young people relationship safety
Coercive Control Laws & Reform – Canada & International
Canada
Divorce Act (Amended 2019)
Recognizes coercive and controlling behaviour as a form of family violence in custody and access decisions.
Bill C‑332
Private Member’s Bill introduced to criminalize coercive control in Canada, currently supported by the Minister of Justice.
Justice Canada Research (2023)
Recognizes coercive control in family violence and urges legal, judicial, and police reform.
Sagesse & Luke’s Place Committee Briefs
Canadian domestic violence organizations presented formal briefs to federal committees urging criminalization of coercive control, training for judges, and a national coercive control strategy.
Canada - Core Reports & Actions on Coercive Control
FEWO (the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women) is a federal parliamentary committee that addresses gender‑based issues—from femicides to coercive control and parental alienation.
Recent hearings have exposed how courts weaponize alienation and reunification therapy.
Standing Committee on the Status of Women – Testimony on Reunification Therapy and Parental Alienation(Oct 23, 2024)
Witnesses describe how coercive control is ignored in court while abusive parents use alienation claims to justify reunification therapy, no-contact orders, and custody reversals.
Standing Committee on the Status of Women – Testimony from Youth and Survivors of Reunification Therapy(Oct 2, 2024)
Includes an 18-year-old Canadian’s testimony about forced reunification therapy, parental alienation, and being silenced in court.
This testimony recounts how a mother lost custody of her children, was forced into self-representation, and was subjected to reunification therapy and court orders—despite ongoing coercive control.
It calls for naming coercive control as a crime and banning forced reunification therapy
UN Committee Calls on Canada to Ban Parental Alienation Accusations in Family Court (NAWL News Release, 2023)
In its 2023 report, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) formally called on Canada to legislate against the use of “parental alienation syndrome” in family law. The UN recognized that alienation claims are often used to silence victims of coercive control and discredit protective parents.
Over 250 Canadian organizations backed this recommendation and urged Parliament to act.
Protecting Victims of Coercive Control from Post‑Separation Abuse (Women’s Shelters Canada, June 2024)
Calls for prohibition of parental alienation accusations in family law.
Alienation claims routinely prioritize abusive fathers over child safety.
Stopping Parental Alienation Accusations against Victims of Coercive Control (National Association of Women and the Law, June 2024)
To truly protect victims, Canada must change the law.
The current legal foundation allows abusing parents to weaponize alienation even when violence is evident.
Explains how separation increases the risk of child harm and lethal violence, especially in coercively controlling relationships.
Retaliatory Filicide and Familicide During Separation
Outlines patterns of coercive control — including financial, emotional, and litigation abuse — and how they continue after separation.
Parliament’s standing committee calls for coercive control to be formally criminalized, citing the danger of leaving it unaddressed.
Defines coercive and controlling behaviour as present in 95% of domestic violence cases
Guides legal professionals in identifying coercive control during custody and parenting proceedings, especially post-separation.
International Coercive Control Laws
United Nations
Landmark United Nations report recognizes coercive control as a form of gender-based violence, warns of its lethal potential, and urges global legal reform.
“Failure to recognize and address coercive control can result in fatal outcomes.”
England & Wales
Serious Crime Act 2015
First law to criminalize coercive and controlling behaviour in intimate relationships.
Scotland
Domestic Abuse Act 2018
Creates a specific offence for psychological and emotional abuse as part of a pattern of control.
Ireland
Domestic Violence Act 2018
Includes coercive control as a criminal offence with up to 5 years in prison.
Australia (New South Wales)
Coercive Control Law (2022, active July 2024)
Recognizes coercive control as a standalone offence in intimate partner relationships.
Australia (Queensland)
Expanded definition of domestic violence in 2022 to include coercive and controlling behaviour.
France
Psychological Violence Law (2010)
Recognizes mental and emotional abuse as a form of domestic violence punishable under criminal law.
United States
Jennifer’s Law (Connecticut, 2021)
Expands the definition of domestic violence to include non-physical abuse, including coercive control.
Hawaii (2021)
Enacted a misdemeanor law recognizing coercive control within family violence cases.
South Australia
Bill Proposed (2024)
A new bill aims to criminalize coercive control and economic abuse.
Legal Rights & International Standards
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Fundamental legal protections under Canada’s constitution.
Canadian Human Rights Act
Federal legislation protecting against discrimination.
U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights
The cornerstone of rights and protections in the United States.
UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Core global human rights principles.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Sets international standards for the protection of children.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
UN treaty on women’s equality.
Domestic Violence & Coercive Control Support
Canada
ShelterSafe.ca – Map and directory of women’s shelters nationwide.
Canadian Women’s Foundation – National programs addressing gender-based violence.
Ending Violence Association of Canada – Supports and strengthens anti-violence organizations country-wide.
Hope in Hell – Canadian survivor-led advocacy for coercive control in family court.
Luke’s Place (Ontario) – Legal tools and education for women navigating custody and separation.
United States
National Domestic Violence Hotline – 24/7 confidential support for anyone experiencing domestic abuse. Call 1‑800‑799‑7233.
Domestic Shelters – Directory and resources for U.S. shelters and services across the country.
WomensLaw.org – Easy-to-understand legal information for survivors of abuse.
Victim Rights Center of Connecticut – Legal advocacy services for crime victims in CT.
Crisis Hotlines & Immediate Help
Canada
Use ShelterSafe.ca to locate nearby shelters.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1‑800‑799‑7233 (TTY: 1‑800‑787‑3224).
Indigenous-specific: Hope for Wellness Helpline – 1‑855‑242‑3310.
Human trafficking: Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline – 1‑833‑900‑1010.
United States
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1‑800‑799‑7233, chat or text “START” to 88788.
National Human Trafficking Hotline – 1‑888‑373‑7888.
Digital Safety
Women’s Guide to Cyber Safety (2025)
Comprehensive safety tips for navigating tech-based abuse.
Seek Then Speak
A trauma-informed app that allows victims of sexual assault to privately document their experience and explore reporting options.
Safe & Together Institute: CORE Training
Domestic violence-informed training for parenting and systems professionals.
ONLY LIGHT CAN DRIVE OUT DARKNESS
adapted from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.