DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

October is Domestic Violence Month in the States. Campaigns to increase awareness of a crime that impacts on 1 in 3 women in this country, at some point during their lifetime, are being conducted. In Arizona, there were 107 deaths from domestic violence in 2006.

The statistics in both the US and the UK are shocking: In the US, 5.3 million women are abused each year; Around 1200 women are killed each year by an intimate partner, about 30% of female murders; domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between 15 and 44, more than car accidents, muggings and rape combined.

In the UK, between 1 and 2 women are murdered by their male partners every week; Between 40 and 45% of murdered women are killed by their male partners; 100,000 women per year seek treatment in London for violent injuries received in the home.

It must be pointed out that men also suffer from domestic violence and that, in the US, it occurs in approximately 25 – 30% of gay and lesbian relationships-the same statistical frequency as straight relationships. And do not forget that domestic violence is still a seriously underreported crime.

In Arizona, a Domestic Violence Court has been set up. All cases are initially reviewed by a judge, a prosecutor and a victim advocate. The cases are then tried by a judge and a prosecutor who are specially trained in the complexities of such cases. Moreover, victims and their children receive specialized crisis services from the victim witness program and follow-up services from community organizations that enhance victim safety and ease victim trauma. A Community Domestic Violence Task Force has also been formed to deal with inter-agency collaboration, training, resources and victim services.

As part of the national ‘CUT IT OUT’ program, salon professionals and others in the cosmetics industry who have unique access to women, are being trained to recognize signs of domestic violence in their clients and assist victims in getting help. The program includes an ‘Adopt – a – Shelter’ initiative to assist the 37 domestic violence shelters in Arizona.

Numerous studies have shown that abuse during childhood is highly likely to result in violence, criminal activity, self-harm and chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease and morbid obesity, in adulthood.

Barbara LaWall, the Pima County Attorney, articulates the problem perfectly:

‘This crime puts our safety, possibly our health, our health-care system and our criminal justice system at risk. Medical findings alone stongly document the need for communities to act with more intensive prevention and intervention. As you read this, think of what our community could accomplish if we could raise just one generation of children without domestic violence. Just one generation. Think of the possibilities.’