Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Stop the Silence and End the Violence

Cassandra Clifford

13 years ago

October is a month of awareness, however as I mentioned in yesterday’s post Bullying Prevention Month, there are a number of awareness days that affect children, which have fallen in the shadows this month. Therefore please see the excerpt from my post for the Examiner below:

October is a month of awareness, however despite having the month be designated as a day of awareness for all of the needed causes many are overshadowed by the overflowing pink of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Of course the fight against Breast Cancer is worthy of a whole month, and a whole year to be frank. Nonetheless there are other causes that are needlessly causing millions of women and children to suffer, which often go over looked due to the bright spotlight , also home to a few lesser-known awareness initiatives, such as and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recognize the significant achievements we have made in reducing domestic violence in America, and we recommit ourselves to the important work still before us. Despite tremendous progress, an average of three women in America dies as a result of domestic violence each day. One in four women and one in thirteen men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. These statistics are even more sobering when we consider that domestic violence often goes unreported. (Read the full proclamation by President Obama by accessing the link here).

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from what was first called the “Day of Unity”, established in October 1981, by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The objective, of the then day, was to ‘connect advocates across the nation working to end violence against women and their children’. The Day of Unity quickly developed in to an awareness week and in October1987; the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year the first national toll-free domestic violence hotline, 1-800-799-SAFE (7233),was also established. In 1989 the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month Commemorative Legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort.

Continue reading on Examiner.com End the Cycle of Violence: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Washington DC Human Rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-washington-dc/end-they-cycle-of-violence-october-is-domestic-violence-awareness-month#ixzz1b8vYmIZU

Please check back shortly as I will bring you a more in-depth piece on the issue of domestic violence and how it is a global issue and it’s direct effect on children.