The Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women join victim service providers, law enforcement, the judiciary, prosecutors and survivors around the country to observe October 2009 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We must recognize that we can all be agents of social change and end the tragedy of violence against women.
President Barack Obama made the official announcement in a proclamation:
During this month, we rededicate ourselves to breaking the cycle of violence. By providing young people with education about healthy relationships, and by changing attitudes that support violence, we recognize that domestic violence can be prevented. We must build the capacity of our Nation's victim service providers to reach and serve those in need. We urge community leaders to raise awareness and bring attention to this quiet crisis. Together, we must ensure that, in America, no victim of domestic violence ever struggles alone.
While we have witnessed significant progress since the Violence Against Women Act was signed into law fifteen years ago, we must raise the bar and create a lasting shift in the way our country perceives and responds to violence against women and girls and to violence against children. As President Obama states, “Together, we must ensure that, in America, no victim of domestic violence ever struggles alone. “ Therefore, we, as agents of social change, must elevate the conversation so that Americans understand that violence against women and girls is unacceptable in our homes, schools, and communities – stretching as far north as our Native Alaska villages and as far west as the American Samoa territory.
Violence against women is the seed to so many other forms of violence. This shift must happen because violence against women continues to have devastating effects on entire communities. When children witness violence in the home, those children are impacted by what they have seen and often experienced themselves. Therefore, all members of the community must be engaged to end the violence. Parents, grandparents, siblings, co-workers, coaches, mentors, teachers, religious leaders, must all be involved.
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