October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
History of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM and #DVAM)
This awareness month has evolved from the “Day of Unity” in October 1981 observed by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), with the intent to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. Common themes of advocacy activities across the nation: mourning those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrating those who have survived, and connecting those who work to end violence
October 1987: the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed and the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort. Each year, the Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
National Domestic Violence Statistics
- Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) alone affects more than 12 million people each year
- Child abuse also occurs in up to 70% of families where there is domestic violence
- Key homicide risk factors are abuser unemployment, strangulation, stalking and gun ownership (74%)
- A batterer is 6X more likely to sexually abuse his children and women who are being abused are 1 – 2X more likely to abuse their children
- IPV- related injuries account for approximately 25% of all injuries in hospital emergency departments each year (CDC, 2020)
- 57% of women in jails and prisons report having experienced severe IPV
- IPV is most common against women between the ages of 18 – 24
- A person of any gender, religion, socio-economic status, race, age or sexual orientation may be victimized
*National Domestic Violence Hotline; National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
OneEighty: How You Can Be Supportive of Survivors
- Post the 2021 Domestic Violence Awareness Month Activities Calendar in your home or workplace and take a few moments each day to reflect on the issue – ATTACHED
- Wear purple on October 21st and post a photo on social media in support of survivors. Tag @one-eighty
- Watch a TED talk online about domestic violence to gain important insight into how survivors think and feel
- Discuss domestic violence within your faith-based community. Contact the Community Relations & Prevention Department at OneEighty if you would like to host a guest speaker for an educational presentation
- Follow NCADV/ODVN/OneEighty on social media to stay up-to-date on domestic violence issues and news
- Domestic Violence Awareness Door Decorating Event: Please decorate a door at your home or business and post the above flyer somewhere on the door.We would love to see what you come up with, so please share a picture of your finished product on Facebook and mention @OneEighty, Inc. or email your picture vansicklec@one-eighty.org and we will post it for you!