It is estimated that almost two-thirds of domestic violence that happen in the United States are never reported each year. It comes in many forms – intimidation, threats of violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse – and it affects everyone regardless of age, gender or sexual persuasion.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been studying the patterns of violence and has concluded that it is a serious, yet preventable, public health problem affecting more than 10% of the US population:

“Violence is a significant problem in the United States (U.S.). From infants to the elderly, it affects people in all stages of life. In 2004, 17,357 people died as a result of homicide and 32,439 took their own life. The number of violent deaths tells only part of the story. Many more survive violence and are left with permanent physical and emotional scars.”

In the US alone, about 20 percent of all violent crimes experienced by women are cases of intimate partner violence and over a million women report being stalked each year. The National Organization for Women reports that our gender is ten times more likely than men to be victimized, and at least four women a day die at the hands of their husbands or boyfriends.

JUVIA SMITH, FAITH BELVINS, JILL DEAN, PATRICIA ROTHERMICH, SHERRIE CONNER, YULIANA H. HERNANDEZ, THERESA HICKS, LAYLA R. BANKS, ESTHER KINYANJUI, KIMBERLY HALLMAN, LATRICIA PEOPLES, SARA R.A, DORIS SHAVERS, AMY COMLY, LANICEYA M. WALKER, SUSAN MOULDER

These names might not mean anything to you …. but for the families they have left behind, the grief is all too real. Battered and murdered, these are just some the faceless names of women who have died because of domestic abuse in the last 30 days. As we observe Domestic Awareness Month, let us mourn those who have died, celebrate those who have survived, and help play an important role to help others escape the cycle of abuse.

Laws alone are not enough. We need to help spread the word to others that abuse is not part of love and there is assitsance available. Please take the time to email a copy of this article to five of your closest friends or submit it to social bookmarking sites by clicking the icons at the end of the post.

CREATING A SAFETY PLAN

You do not have control over your partner’s behavior, but you do have a choice about how to respond. It is very difficult to decide to leave a relationship and seek safety either with someone you know or in a domestic violence shelter. It might take several attempts before you can permanently leave. And once you decide that leaving is in your best interest, you still need to cope with the emotional, physical, and financial issues that arise. Read More at Safe Horizon

COVER YOUR TRACKS

A partner can often tell when a woman makes up her mind to stop the abuse. Do not underestimate your partner. Cover Your Tracks. WARNING! Your computer or your telephone may keep records that could betray you! Read More at Interval House

SELF DEFENSE TIPS FOR WOMEN – PREPARING FOR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS

You can prepare against different threats by practicing how to quickly reach the objects and how to use those effectively and safely…. Before using or even practicing these techniques, please read and understand my notice to avoid getting into legal difficulties. Read More at Mental-Health-Today.com

TOUR A DOMESTIC SHELTER

Join us as we go from room to room. Hear the voices of women who have sought shelter with Safe Horizon, see pictures inside of a shelter, and find answers to the questions that battered women entering a shelter might ask. Read More at Safe Horizon

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE – US

Until the violence stops, the hotline will continue to answer…One Call at a Time. Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 140 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224. Read More at National Domestic Violence Hotline

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCIES: CANADA

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon, St Pierre Et Miquelon. Read More at Hot Peach Pages

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELP BY COUNTRY

International Inventory of Domestic Violence Services from countries A-Z. We have lists for 191 out of the approximately 194 independent sovereign states, and for 39 out of the approximately 45 disputed or dependent inhabited states. Read More at Hot Peach Pages

THE STALKING VICTIM’S SANCTUARY

America has been hit with an escalating crisis it doesn’t know how to handle. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of people have fallent victim to individuals who have obsessively focused on them. The phenomenon is called stalking. And once you’ve been a victim, you’ll know how life-destroying this can be. Read More at StalkingVictims.com

ADD A RESOURCE
We have lost so many to Domestic Violence. If you have a resource to add on Domestic Violence, please feel free to leave the link in the comment section of this post. Blog posts are also welcome.

LIGHT A CANDLE AND HELP US REMEMBER
If you have a story to tell about a personal experience, please tell us about it. We will be featuring several stories about Domestic Violence during the month of October and November.