Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October 1, 2006, marks the beginning of the 18th annual observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  People will distribute purple ribbons to promote awareness of this worldwide issue.  The effects of domestic violence on its victims and those close to the victims are tremendous.  In most cases children witness the abuse and may suffer some sort of abuse themselves. 

The Family Violence Prevention Fund states that around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten.

A recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that violence by male partners in the year prior to and during a woman’s pregnancy harms both the health of women during pregnancy and that of their newborn children. Abuse increases a woman’s risk of premature delivery and having a child who is born underweight and in need of intensive care.

The National Crime Prevention Council publication 50 Strategies to Prevent Violent Domestic Crimes takes readers behind the scenes of some of the best domestic violence prevention programs in 36 states with a discussion of the partnerships and components necessary to successfully apply the strategies in any setting. With tips from the field provided by program organizers, and lessons learned from the obstacles they faced, readers will be equipped to take the strategies back to their own communities.

If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit its website for more resources.