October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To give you an idea of the importance of addressing this issue, last year, on any given day in New York City, the police responded to an average of over 600 domestic violence incidents and the city’s Domestic Violence Hotline answered an average of 370 calls daily.
While domestic violence remains pervasive, there is also encouraging news: over the last eight years we have seen a 20 percent decrease in family-related homicides.
As we continue to work toward freeing New Yorkers from abuse, we would like to invite you to join us in our effort to end domestic violence.
There are several ways you can get involved and help make a difference:
DONATE your old or no-longer-used cell phones or smartphones to Verizon Wireless HopeLine program. Proceeds from HopeLine are used to provide wireless phones for victims and cash grants to local domestic violence programs.
WEAR purple on October 20, 2010 to show your support to victims and raise awareness.
LEARN more by attending a Domestic Violence Awareness Month event in your community. Find our calendar of events online, at: www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence.
VOLUNTEER your time at a local domestic violence organization through NYC Service. Call 3-1-1 to find out about volunteer opportunities.
CONNECT friends and family experiencing abuse to the city’s Domestic Violence Hotline through 3-1-1 or refer them to one of the city’s Family Justice Centers, one-stop, multi-lingual domestic violence service centers.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you can work to remind those in the midst of an abusive relationship that help is available. It is likely that each of us knows someone who has been affected by domestic violence. Please encourage them to call 3-1-1 to find out how you can help a friend or family member.
Yolanda B. Jimenez is the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence. The office was created after a November 2001 vote to amend the city charter to permanently have an office to address domestic violence issues. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/domestic violence.
