From ‘Day of Unity’ to National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Focus on abused women, children in October

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following information was taken from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Website, www.ncadv.org.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The idea was conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and evolved from the “Day of Unity” held in October 1981. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national level.

Throughout the month of October, the public is encouraged to take a stand and work together, to join in the effort to end domestic violence.

Purple is the color of domestic violence awareness month. During the month of October, this symbol is used to tell others about the importance of ending domestic violence, as well as:

•Mourning those who have died because of domestic violence.

•Celebrating those who have survived.

•Connecting those who work to end violence.

These three themes remain a key focus of DVAM events.

There will be a run/walk in Magnolia this month, held in connection with this month’s observance.

Compassion’s Foundation (Living Water Domestic Violence Shelter) will hold the second annual “Stride Against Domestic Violence” 5k walk/run at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Registration will be from 8-8:45 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 1300 E. University. Entry fees are $20 for the adult race and $15 for SAU student race. For more information, call (870) 235-1415.

First observation 1987

In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year marks the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989, the United States Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since, with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort. Each year, the “Day of Unity” is celebrated the first Monday of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The vision of NCADV is to create a culture where domestic violence is not tolerated; and where society empowers victims and survivors, and holds abusers accountable.

NCADV is the voice of victims and survivors, and is the catalyst for changing society to have zero tolerance for domestic violence. This is done by effecting public policy, increasing understanding of the impact of domestic violence, and providing programs and education that drive that change.

Some national statistics about domestic violence:

•Every nine seconds in the U.S, a woman is assaulted or beaten.

•On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.

•One in three women and one in four men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.

•One in five women and one in seven men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

•One in seven women and one in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.

•On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.

•The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500 percent.

•Intimate partner violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime.

•Women between the ages of 18-24 are most commonly abused by an intimate partner.

•Nineteen percent of domestic violence involves a weapon.

•Domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior.

•Only 34 percent of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.

•One in five women and one in 71 men in the U.S. have been raped in their lifetime.

•Almost half of female (46.7 percent) and male (44.9 percent) victims of rape in the U.S. were assaulted by an acquaintance. Of these, 45.4 percent of female rape victims and 29 percent of male rape victims were raped by an intimate partner.

•In stalking cases, 19.3 million women and 5.1 million men in the U.S. have been stalked in their lifetime, with 60.8 percent of female stalking victims and 43.5 percent of men reported being stalked by a current or former intimate partner.

•A study of intimate partner homicides found that 20 percent of victims were not the intimate partners themselves, but family members, friends, neighbors, persons who intervened, law enforcement responders, or bystanders.

•Statistics show that 72 percent of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner; 94 percent of the victims of these murder suicides are female.

•Statistics show that one in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90 percent of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.

•Domestic violence has an economic impact as well. Statistics show that victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of 8.0 million days of paid work each year. Between 21-60 percent of victims of intimate partner violence lose their jobs due to reasons stemming from the abuse. The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $8.3 billion per year.

•Between 2003 and 2008, 142 women were murdered in their workplace by their abuser - with 78 percent of women killed in the workplace during this timeframe.

•Women abused by their intimate partners are more vulnerable to contracting HIV or other sexualy transmitted diseases.

•Studies suggest there is a relationship between intimate partner violence and depression and suicidal behavior.

•Physical, mental, and sexual and reproductive health effects have been linked with intimate partner violence including adolescent pregnancy, unintended pregnancy in general, miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine haemorrhage, nutritional deficiency, abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, chronic pain, disability, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Victims of domestic violence are also at higher risk for developing addictions to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.

For anonymous, confidential help 24/7, victims may call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

For more informaiton, visit the website at www.ncadv.org.

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