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As Domestic Violence Month Ends, Those Who Witness Abuse Must Act

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), an annual designation observed in October, is quickly coming to a close, but it emphasizes an issue that many deal with every day of the year. For some, home is a place of love, comfort, security and happiness, but for millions of others, home is anything but a safe refuge. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are victims of physical violence by a partner every year. Domestic violence is widespread and affects people from all walks of life; one in four women and one in seven men have suffered violence from an intimate partner. The effects of domestic violence can last a lifetime, and each person heals differently.

DVAM evolved from the “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The “Day of Unity” soon evolved into a week, and in October of 1987, the first National Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. In 1989, Congress passed Public Law 101-112, officially designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has been passed each year since.

Domestic violence is often minimized or ignored, but we must all understand and uphold zero tolerance for violence in our community. An increased level of awareness is essential to reducing child abuse, intimate partner violence, violence against women, and violence in general. No one should be using violence as a way to exert power over another person, and we need to be aware, and determined to eradicate it. Domestic violence has truly become a public health and safety issue with far-reaching consequences for individuals, workplaces, schools, and communities. As community members, we all play a role in this initiative.

Trying to prevent domestic violence is difficult, as the abuse is usually within the home. Often times, victims want the violence to stop but don’t want the relationship with their partner to end. Statistics and research show that the most dangerous time an abused partner faces after leaving the relationship starts after they’ve fled, and lasts through the next six months. During this time period, he or she is most likely to be seriously injured, or killed, by the abuser.

Those who are aware of or witness domestic violence need to become involved. Our community residents need to be educated regarding what to do, who to contact, and how they can help, before it is too late. The Chautauqua County Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, and the Salvation Army Anew Center are hoping to lead these efforts with this and upcoming articles. Our agencies will be highlighted so that community members know what services are offered for domestic violence victims and survivors. The Coalition is asking individuals and agencies to share their commitment to reducing violence in Chautauqua County and explain how they have acted on this commitment. Please contact the coalition with your stories and we may be able to share them in future media releases. Because this is not just a ‘women’s’ issue, the Coalition and The Salvation Army are asking men in the community to make a commitment increasing their awareness or choosing to make a difference in our community this year. As community members, we must do more to keep the conversation, the awareness, and the “Call to Action” growing. Here are a few resources and ideas:

¯ Coaches can commit to teaching the LIVE Respect curriculum, a free resource developed by A CALL TO MEN

¯ Learning bystander techniques to assist victims when you are confronted with a domestic violence situation

¯ Stopping others from making derogatory and/or sexist remarks

¯ Contacting the local domestic violence program to ask how you can help

¯ Making a commitment through your church, team, organization, your own family, or your workplace to develop a violence reduction program

¯ Using social media as a platform to educate and take a stand against victim blaming

¯ Using social media to ask others to join in on the movement and take a stand against domestic violence with campaigns like the #1Thing campaign developed by the Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP). DVAP spreads the message that “Change can start with only #1Thing. One person’s actions may seem insignificant, but together a communities’ collective “#1Things” can lead to real social transformation.” ()

¯ In 1995, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) convened several national domestic violence organizations to launch a new effort to support domestic violence programs’ awareness and education efforts for DVAM. This collaborative effort became the Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP).

The coalition can be reached at 483-7718. The Salvation Army Anew Center hotline is 800-252-8748. More information about the Anew Center can be found on their Facebook page, or by calling the Salvation Army at 664-4108. Learn more about the #1Thing campaign at https://nrcdv.org/dvam/1thing.

Submitted by Jane Johnson, Salvation Army Advisory Board, on behalf of the CCCAV & Salvation Army Anew Center.

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