October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a prime time to bring greater awareness to intimate partner violence and dating violence.

The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (2010) found that nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States have been raped at some point in their lives.

• An estimated 10.7 percent of women and 2.1 percent of men have been stalked by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
• About 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner.
• Nearly half of all women and men in the United States have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Statistics such as these are representative of the real trauma that happens, often secretly, within relationships. Periodically throughout October, information about intimate partner violence and its impact will be shared through RESPECT’s social media sites Facebook and Twitter.  Information is also available through the Pat Walker Health Center virtual brochure rack. For a checklist concerning relationship violence view the STAR Central Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse brochure. Additional resources are available through the RESPECT webpage.

About Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect battered women?s advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became a special week when a range of activities were conducted at the local, state, and national levels.

In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year the first national toll-free hotline was begun. 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.