As Domestic Violence Survivors Face Unique Challenges Amid Pandemic, Domestic Violence Awareness Month Offers Opportunity for Education
AUSTIN, Texas — This October, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is honoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) in a year that has presented unprecedented challenges and obstacles for domestic violence survivors, including intensified insolation and additional barriers to accessing support and resources.
DVAM is held throughout the month of October as a way to bring people across the nation together to end domestic violence through education and advocacy. Each year, DVAM is an opportunity for anyone and everyone – survivors, advocates, supporters, and political leaders – to unite in our work to end domestic violence. This is a time of solidarity and support, and a time for survivors to share their stories.
Amid the pandemic, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has worked diligently to continue to provide essential safety planning, validation and connection to local resources for survivors. The Hotline continues to raise awareness of the increased risk to domestic violence survivors during this time, and enhance public education on how they can best support survivors in their networks.. During stay-at-home orders, survivors were in closer proximity to their abusers for longer stretches of time.
This year, we are participating in the Domestic Violence Awareness Project’s #1Thing campaign. Change can start with only #1Thing. One person’s actions may seem insignificant, but together a communities’ collective “#1Things” can lead to real social transformation and an end to domestic abuse. Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more.
As part of its work furthering awareness and education on domestic violence and intimate partner violence during the pandemic, The Hotline issued a special COVID-19 report breaking down its data on survivor experiences in the 60-day period between March 16 and May 16, when a majority of U.S. stay-at-home orders were in effect.
“While the pandemic has brought new challenges to people across the country, especially survivors, we can all take action to end domestic violence. Uplifting survivors’ voices, advocating for lifesaving resources, and reaching out when friends or loved ones are in trouble will help us build a world without domestic violence.” said Katie Ray-Jones, CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. “When we educate ourselves and others about domestic abuse, we equip communities with knowledge and confidence to end violence.”
Even when the major threat of this pandemic is over, there will be long-term effects on the health and safety of survivors. Their safety and needs must be prioritized. Domestic Violence Awareness Month offers a significant opportunity to further spread education and awareness around abuse, particularly during a time that is acutely challenging for survivors.
If you have any questions about The Hotline’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic, or about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, please contact the media team at [email protected]
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The National Domestic Violence Hotline envisions a world where all relationships are positive, healthy, and free from violence. If you or someone you know needs help call The Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or go to thehotline.org.