October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By Aina Saarikallio

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The aim of the awareness month is to stimulate and encourage the conversation around the topic of domestic violence on different levels and platforms. Both organizations as well as individuals are welcome to participate. For instance, Oct 19th is purple Thursday, which means that people are encouraged to wear purple, hang purple lights and share the message of the awareness month. In addition to this, New York State landmarks will be illuminated in purple (NYS Office of the Prevention of Domestic Violence).

Domestic violence commonly refers to the abuse committed by an intimate partner, but victims can also include children or other family or household members. Domestic violence is never just physical violence. It can take many different forms, such as mental, emotional or sexual abuse, financial control, threats, humiliation, manipulation etc. The abusive behavior is exercised to maintain power and control over another person (National Domestic Violence Hotline) (United Nations).

Anyone can be a victim, or perpetrator, of domestic violence, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, faith or class (United Nations). Both men and women suffer from abuse in relationships; one in three women and one in four men have been physically abused by an intimate partner. When it comes to severe physical abuse in intimate relationships, one in five women and one in seven men have suffered abuse (National Child Traumatic Stress Network).

During the Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we would like to highlight one of our neighboring organizations, W.A.R.M. (We All Really Matter). W.A.R.M. is a non-profit organization based in Harlem and founded in 2010 by survivor Stephanie McGraw. The organization is committed to providing urgent and long-term help for survivors of domestic abuse. Their mission is to provide a personal approach to healing and to empower women by sharing experiences, and ultimately, help victims rebuild, restore and reconnect within.

We had the chance to familiarize with the work that W.A.R.M. does when they participated in Women’s Health Forum on Sept 18th at the Kota Nest, where several local organizations gathered to discuss critical health challenges that women face in our community.

W.A.R.M. is actively participating in the Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and on Thursday Oct 5th they are hosting the event A Day of Harlem Healing.

Read more of the work that W.A.R.M. does and the victim services they offer here.

Most importantly; nobody deserves to be abused, regardless of circumstances and past events. If you in any way feel concerned about your safety, or the safety of someone else, please see the contact information below. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline can be reached 24/7 in most languages:

Call 800-942-6906, Text 844-997-2121 or chat at opdv.ny.gov.