Family violence is a nationwide epidemic. In 1999, 826,000 children were physically and sexually abused in America and nearly 4 million women are seriously assaulted by their partner each year. Domestic and sexual abuse are topics most people would rather not talk about and pretend they don’t exist. When we raise awareness of these problems, the signs and patterns of abuse will become easily recognizable to teachers, relatives and everyone that touches a child’s life. This will allow law enforcement, social services, and faith-based organizations to intervene before a life is lost or a child is permanently scarred.
We also need to provide services for the survivors of domestic abuse, and that is what they are: survivors, not victims. While the violence may have ended, it is only then that these individuals can put the pieces of their lives back together and try to heal. Members of the law enforcement, social services and government communities - as well as friends, family and neighbors- need to stand with the survivors, providing support so they can restore the hope that was torn from their grasp.