We here at the LLNG Family would like to bring to your attention the importance of “Ending Domestic Violence”! Nearly 25 years ago, the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act was enacted. It was part of the crime bill, uniting communities to tackle the horrific plague of violence together and ensuring support for survivors. Domestic violence is a pervasive, life-threatening crime affecting millions of individuals across our nation regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status, race or religion. The statistics are alarming:
STATISTICS
Nationwide, an average of three women are murdered by a current or former intimate partner every day.
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner. contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.
Approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence annually.
RAPE
1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States has been raped in their lifetime.
Almost half of female (46.7%) and male (44.9%) victims of rape in the United States were raped by an acquaintance. Of these, 45.4% of female rape victims and 29% of male rape victims were raped by an intimate partner.
STALKING
19.3 million women and 5.1 million men in the United States have been stalked in their lifetime. 60.8% of female stalking victims and 43.5% men reported being stalked by a current or former intimate partner.
HOMICIDE
A study of intimate partner homicides found that 20% of victims were not the intimate partners themselves, but family members, friends, neighbors, persons who intervened, law enforcement responders, or bystanders.
72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner; 94% of the victims of these murder suicides are female.
CHILDREN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of 8.0 million days of paid work each year.
The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $8.3 billion per year.
Between 21-60% of victims of intimate partner violence lose their jobs due to reasons stemming from the abuse.
Between 2003 and 2008, 142 women were murdered in their workplace by their abuser, 78% of women killed in the workplace during this timeframe.
Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women.
51.5% of victims who identified a need for housing services did not receive them.
Domestic violence has been estimated to cost employers in the U.S. up to $13 billion a year.
Though steady progress has been made there are many victims who still suffer in silence. In fact, a 2018 24-hour survey of domestic violence programs across the U.S. found that in just one day alone 74,823 victims of domestic violence received services and 19,459 Domestic Violence Hotline calls were answered. However, 9,183 requests for services (such as emergency shelter, transportation, or legal representation) went unmet that day due to lack of funding and resources. The unconscionable gap between need and resources only widens.
Statistics by National Network to End Domestic Violence, “Domestic and Sexual Violence Fact Sheet.”
Statistics by National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “Statistics”
13th annual Domestic Violence Counts National Summary
In Congress, the Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus (Formerly Victims’ Rights Caucus (VRC) is a bipartisan caucus that advocates for crime victims, including domestic violence, and law enforcement officials. The Co-Chairs are U.S. Reps Jim Costa (D-CA) and Pete Olson (R-TX).
There is plenty of work to do to educate members of Congress about the importance of supporting federal programs and legislation that support victims of crime.
Take Action.
What You Can Do To Make a Difference.
In addition to supporting your local domestic violence center, creating awareness about how a victim can find help (see item 3 below), or by wearing purple, you can also do your part to strengthen the voice of champions on Capitol Hill who seek an end to domestic violence by growing the Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus. Or you can, convey support for federal programs that provide much-needed resources that provide life-saving services to victims of crime/domestic violence.
Action Item 1 | Grow Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus (Write and Call your members of Congress)
Action Item 2 | Support Federal Victims’ Programs
For example, please call and or write your Congressional Rep and discuss the urgency of helping to pass H.R.7930 - Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act, a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect more victims of domestic violence by preventing their abusers from possessing or receiving firearms.
Federal programs of importance include: Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA), Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), and Victims of Crime Act/Crime Victims’ Fund (VOCA)
Action Item 3 | Raise Awareness, Share DV Resources
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Information
National Domestic Violence Hotline (Hotline Fact Sheet) 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Inform | National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey