Lubna Shaban and Arab Community Centre of Toronto

abusive relationships: Now, representatives from the Arab Community Centre of Toronto say many are speaking up to say they are living in abusive relationships, according to CBC. Federal spending spiked during final scramble to meet Syrian refugee deadline5 things to know about Canada Syrian refugee program Lubna Shaban, a settlement counsellor at the centre, said many of the women are scared to come forward, especially because their language skills are limited and they're unsure of the potential repercussions — including a concern that they may be deported. "Many try to stay silent, as in many cultures," Shaban told CBC News. "Even in Canadian society many stay in abusive relationships before deciding to disclose." Shaban and others working at the centre hope the federal government, which has set aside nearly $1 billion in funding to help settle the refugees, will allow some of that money to be spent on social issues like helping families deal with and prevent abuse. More than 25,000 refugees from Syria have fled the civil war in that country and settled in Canada, with many arriving during the winter months. In some cases, Shaban said, the main issue is education as the men need to learn that they don't control every aspect of their wife life, such as when they're allowed to leave the house. In Canada, one in five women experience some form of abuse in their intimate relationship, figures from the Battered Women Support Services group show. The issue of domestic violence isn't limited to Syrians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.