Did you know that over 200 million women and girls experience intimate partner violence each year? Nearly half of these women will not report their incidents due to social pressure, dependence on their partner, or psychological trauma. When someone is scared to report their domestic violence situation, it is important to help them find the right resources to help
19% of people know a friend or family member that has been the victim of domestic violence, and 17% know someone who has committed such an act. If you witness someone acting violent towards their partner, call the police right away. Write down and document the incident including the date, time, location, injuries, and circumstances–all this information can assist law enforcement in bringing charges to the abuser or securing restraining orders!
If you don’t know of anyone who is experiencing domestic violence directly, you can still help support victims by raising awareness in your own community or making donations to local shelters. If someone needs help finding resources, help them by finding the closest organizations on the national domestic violence hotline’s website or by looking in a local service provider directory. Domestic violence is a very pressing matter, and it is important to know what to do if you or a loved one is experiencing any kind of abuse. Learn more about how to help in the infographic below:
