Domestic Violence

A definition.

What is Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is a pattern of coercive behavior used by one person to gain power and control over another. It affects women, children and men, crossing all cultural, racial, and economic lines, regardless of sexual orientation. Domestic violence also affects children, causing trauma, blame, guilt, shame, physical and emotional illness. It effects communities, impacting public health, crime, and civic participation.

There is nothing domestic about the violence that happens in the home. It is a human rights violation. We deserve and have a right not to be abused, battered, raped, intimidated, made to live in fear or assaulted.

For a victim of Domestic Violence every decision and relationship is impacted by the intimidation, fear, and isolation.

Did You Know…

• For women between 15 and 44, domestic violence is the leading cause of injury – more common than car accidents, muggings and cancer deaths combined.
• 1 in 3 women will experience violence from their partners.
• 40% of 14- to 17-year-old girls report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a partner.
• Domestic Violence teaches those who witness it to expect violence. A child’s exposure to a father abusing a mother is the strongest risk factor for transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next. Child witnesses are 3 times more likely to hit their wives.
• Husbands and boyfriends commit 13,000 acts of violence against women in the workplace every year.
• No One Should Ignore Domestic Violence.