 |
| Please Help Stop Domestic Violence |
Men who abuse their partners fall into no specific categories and come from all backgrounds, races, religions and walks of life. They be unemployed or highly paid professionals. The abusers may be good providers, upstanding members of their community, and respected members of their church congregation.
What can you do to help stop domestic violence?
The following is a partial list of things that anyone can do to join the fight against domestic violence, published by the Nebraska DomesticViolence Sexual Assault Coalition:
- Speak out against violence when you are confronted with it in your daily life.
- Challenge attitudes and beliefs that allow the violence and blame the victim.
- In personal and private situations, hold the batterer, not the victims, accountable for the violence. Address behaviors that are abusive(i.e., friends who talk about keeping their partner “in line” by physically abusing her or otherwise degrading their partners).
- Learn how to respond appropriately if someone discloses to you. Help is available. Contact your local domestic violence/sexual assault program for more information on how to help yourself or a friend.
- Support legislation that assists victims and increases accountability for the batterer.
- Donate time as a volunteer. Most crisis programs have a variety of volunteer opportunities, including both direct service with victims and indirect service that would not entail working with victims.
- Encourage your neighborhood watch or block association to become as concerned with watching out for domestic violence as with burglaries and other crimes.
- Help others become informed, by inviting speakers to your church, professional organization, civic group, or workplace.
See also: Domestic Violence Victims-What Can You Do?
What can your business do to help stop domestic violence?
According to information provided by the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence:
It is estimated that 25% of workplace problems such as absenteeism,lower productivity, turnover and excessive use of medical benefits are due to family violence. (Employee Assistance Providers/MN)
The NH Coalition has also published a "Domestic Violence and The Workplace: Best Practices" that might be helpful in your efforts to join the fight against domestic violence.
In addition to all the things that anyone can do listed above, your business should consider:
- Become better informed about domestic and sexual violence and its warning signs
- Obtain information from the local domestic violence/sexual assault program on the resources available and the facts about violence against women.
- Invite the local domestic violence/sexual assault program to speak at business meetings.
- Attend the local volunteer advocate training to learn more about violence against women, the resources available, and what you can do.
- Provide in-house and community education about effects of domestic violence on women and children.
- Provide informative brochures and safety cards in private locations such as bathrooms.
See also: "How To Respond To Employees Facing Domestic Violence"- published by the Cambridge Public Health Department.
What can your church do to help stop domestic violence?
According to an article - "What Churches Can Do To Address Domestic Violence", published at Crosswalk.com:
"Churches have an opportunity to be at the forefront of intervention and prevention of abuse! Pastors and church leaders may be the first to hear about abuse or identify a victim. Not only can they help the victim access help, safety, and resources, but leaders can hold men accountable for changing abusive and controlling types of behavior."
There is an interesting article published at Eagles Wings that outlines many things churches can do to help stop domestic violence,including:
- Display brochures and posters with contact numbers for the National Domestic Violence Hotline number, 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Wearing, dispensing, and displaying purple ribbons as a symbol that you stand with abuse victims for ending the violence.
- Getting your leadership trained in domestic violence crisis prevention and intervention.
- Letting members know the pastoral team is always available to help anyone who is dealing with abuse at home.
- Writing about spousal abuse statistics in the church bulletins.
- Inviting in experts to talk to your congregation throughout the year
- Training youth ministers to teach young people what healthy dating relationships look like.
- Starting early by teaching young children in the church what it means to treat girls, women, and one another with respect.
No woman or child in a free society should have to live their lives in constant fear. The one place that all people should feel safe is in their own home. Unfortunately, domestic violence involves very tragic events that will not just go away simply because we choose not to talk about it.
It's not a private matter and everyone should be as concerned about the violence as they are about housing or feeding the homeless. It's our problem and if we all get involved in the fight, we can stop it.
