Responsibility Blog
More Information on the 4th Annual National Domestic Violence Summit
By Lupita Reyes | October 22, 2009
A few weeks ago Kathy Brown wrote in this space about her experience at the national domestic violence summit, which was held in Dallas. This year’s summit explored two central themes – engaging communities to help end domestic violence, and bringing men into the conversation to be part of the solution.
Today we have more information to share that will help tell the story of this serious social issue. For too long, domestic violence has been considered solely a women’s issue.
The truth is:
1 out of 4 women are affected
1 out of 9 men are affected
3 million children are affected each year
More than 120 leaders stepped forward to be a part of the discussion. Now it’s your turn.
Take a few minutes and see what took place at this year’s summit and leave comments here if you have suggestions on how to effect even more positive change for victims of domestic violence.
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About the Author
Lupita Reyes
National Program Director, Verizon Foundation
Lupita blogs on domestic violence prevention issues and Verizon’s Hopeline program. She administers grants on safety and health issues for the Verizon Foundation and organizes the annual Domestic Violence Prevention Summit.
Also, domestic violence is not immune to any specific cultural background, ethic, and/or religious orientation. Women of verbal abuse, in some cases, may not even realize that they are being abused. Some local cultural practices are inherently abusive, and are past down, generation to generation. For example, women of more “traditional values,” or those who may have witnessed their own mothers withstand abuse as a necessary role in, keeping the family together, subconsciously see that role as the expected role of being a good wife, and mother. This is probably one main reason that why some women feel really guilty about speaking out, and can’t even recognize this as being a “root” of domestic violence. In these cases, education is to key, before matters reach extreme abuse levels.
Eric Byas • Posted on Sat, October 24, 2009 - 9:07 am EDT