Henise, L., Ellsberg, M. and Geottemoeller, M. Ending Violence Against
Women, Population Reports, Series L, No. 11, December 1999. 2 Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001. February 2003. 3 Jay G. Silverman, PhD; Anita Raj, PhD; Lorelei A. Mucci, MPH; and Jeannie E. Hathaway, MD, MPH, Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality, Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 286, No. 5, 2001. 4 US Department of Justice 5 The Commonwealth Fund, Health Concerns Across a Womans Lifespan: 1998 Survey of Womens Health, May 1999. If you or someone you know is frightened about a relationship, please www.ndvh.org MAKE THE CALL Facts About Domestic Violence I Of the millions of people abused each year, approximately 4 million are American women. 1 I On the average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends every day. 2 I One out of three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. 3 I 37 percent of all women who sought care in hospital emergency rooms for violencerelated injuries were injured by a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend. 4 I Some estimates say almost 1 million incidents of violence occur against a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend per year. 5 The National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) provides a free and confidential resource to those who are abused or to friends and family who are concerned that a loved one is being abused. Hotline services include: Crisis intervention Safety planning Information about domestic violence and referrals to local service providers Direct connection to domestic violence resources available in the callers area provided by a Hotline advocate, including local military Family Advocacy Programs and victim advocates Assistance in more than 140 different languages Since 1996, NDVH has answered more than 1.4 million calls from victims, survivors, friends and family members and law enforcement. Hotline advocates are trained in crisis intervention and are able to put callers in touch with more than 5,000 family violence programs nationwide. The toll-free Hotline is confidential, available 24-hours a day and can be reached from anywhere in the 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. National Domestic Violence Hotline
Are You or SomeoneYou Know
in an Abusive Relationship? There are many signs to look for to determine if you are being abused, some more serious than others. For instance, does your partner: Look at you or act in ways that scare you? Control what you do, who you see or talk to or where you go? Stop you from seeing your friends or family members? Make all of the decisions? Tell you that youre a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children? Prevent you from working or attending school? Intimidate you with guns, knives or other weapons? Shove you, slap you, choke you or hit you? Threaten to commit suicide? Threaten to kill you? WhereYou CanTurn forHelp Once you call the Hotline, an advocate will put you in touch with a local program that can help you further. If you are on a military installation, contact the installation victim advocate, the Family Advocacy Program and/or law enforcement. MAKE THE CALL If you answered YES to even one of these questions, you may be in an abusive relationship.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline under-
stands the overwhelming and detrimental effect domestic violence has on families. Until the violence stops, we will continue to helpone call at a time. Make the call and Take a Stand Against Domestic Violence. Sheryl Cates Executive Director, NDVH What is Domestic Violence? Domestic violence is a crime that ruins families, weakens communities and undermines military readiness. With this campaign, we are calling on our service men, women and their families to Take a Stand Against Domestic Violence. Dr. David S.C. Chu Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness United States Department of Defense The Department of Defense defines domestic violence as an offense under the United States Code, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or State law that involves the use, attempted use, or threatened use of force or violence against a person, or the violation of a lawful order issued for the protection of a person who is: (a) a current or former spouse; (b) a person with whom the abuser shares a child in common; or (c) a current or former intimate partner with whom the abuser shares or has shared a common domicile. Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, religion or gender and can affect people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, education levels and military ranks.