National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Rep. Boozman's Column for the Week of October 24, 2005

Washington, Oct 24 - Here's a frightening statistic for you. One of every three women will be affected by domestic violence during their lifetime. That means that there is a good possibility that someone you know, probably somebody you care deeply about, will be a victim of domestic abuse. As a father of three daughters, I find this unacceptable.

Domestic violence is defined as the physical harm, bodily injury, assault or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault between family or household members. In many cases, there are no bruises to show; rather the victim has been subjected to intimidation over and over again so their partner can maintain control. Other times there are more than bruises. In 2004, the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported eighteen women were murdered by their abuser. Already this year we have matched that number.

Congress is committed to addressing this issue. This year, we passed - and I voted for - an extension of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Since this act first passed in 1994, the rate of domestic violence has diminished dramatically. The rate of family violence fell over three percentage points in the ten years since VAWA was passed. Although great strides have been made toward breaking the cycle of violence, much work remains to be done. One only needs to visit a domestic violence shelter in Arkansas to see that the job is incomplete.

Domestic violence affects women, men, and children of all racial, social, religious, ethnic and economic groups in the United States. Family violence accounted for eleven percent of all reported and unreported violence between 1998 and 2002. Nationally, domestic violence results in over twelve hundred deaths and two million injuries. About twenty-two percent of murders in 2002 were family murders. Family members were responsible for forty-three percent of murders of females in 2002. Fifteen percent of the state prison population is incarcerated for a violent crime against a family member.

Domestic Violence is an epidemic that faces everyone, indiscriminate of race, gender, socio-economic status, and age. These victims are our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow church members.

We, as a community, can help victims of domestic violence by dispelling the many myths surrounding domestic violence. We can become educated about domestic violence and why it happens, and how it affects the women and children that suffer through it. We can learn the cost society pays by not speaking up and tolerating this silent academic.

For this reason, October has been declared National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The goal of this campaign is to increase the public awareness and understanding of domestic violence and the needs of battered women and children. The month of October, 2005 has been recognized as an appropriate month for activities furthering awareness of domestic violence; and the dedication and success of those working tirelessly to end domestic violence and the strength of the survivors of domestic violence should be recognized.

This month is a good opportunity for everyone to learn more about what we can do to help end this silent and often deadly crime. We have a great resource in the state with the Arkansas Domestic Violence Coalition. Take some time to call them at 1-800-269-4668 to learn more about what can be done in our own communities to help support these families and end domestic violence.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=35885