National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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Created on Monday, 13 October 2014 19:06
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domviotumbnailVERMONT- October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the United States. The idea stemmed from The Day of Unity, a celebration created in 1981 by The National Coalition Agency. The holiday, which is now celebrated on the first Monday of every October, was created to connect victims and advocates of domestic violence.

 

 

 According to The National Coalition Against Violance one in every four women, and one in every 33 men, will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Every October advocates and victims of domestic violence have a chance to spread awareness and promote prevention across the country, so that someday their can be end to Domestic Violance 

    

Domestic Violence Awareness month started in 1987. In 1989 the first Domestic Violence Commemorative Legislation was passed. Now every year, on September 30th, the President proclaims October National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

    

This year also happens to be the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, which was passed in 1994 under president clinton. The act not only tightened the laws concerning domestic violence, but also provided funds to investigate and prosecute violent crimes, and established the Officeon Violence against Women within the Department of Justice. 

   
Elisa Lucozzi is the Program Manager at Umbrella, an organization created to give support to women and children in Vermont's North East Kingdom. She believes people truly are unaware of just how common domestic violence really is, and that is why National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is so important to her.

     
"There are people who live through [domestic violence] every single day. And thats the part that I think is really hard for some people to get their minds around and also hard for people to understand what a problem this is. That this happens a lot more than people would expect" Lucozzi said.


At the Umbrella alone there were 689 cases of domestic abuse just last year. In support of National domestic Awareness month towns and cities across the country are proudly displaying purple ribbons. There are also a number of marches and runs to spread awareness. If you would like to contribute to National Domestic Violence Awareness Month here in Vermont you can click here to find about opportunities in your area, and if you ever feel that you or a loved on is in danger of Domestic Violence please call (802)748-8645, or contact your local law enforcement.