October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Women Watch Afrika is inviting you to be a part of the conversation and a part of the work to End Domestic Violence.

 

 

• • Wear purple. You can wear purple, have purple nails, wear the purple ribbon. Then Snap a selfie and tag it #DVAM or #DVAM2022.  This let survivors and advocates know you support them and it can start conversations that will raise awareness.
    

 

• • Attend an event near you.  Attend events that are being held to address the issue of domestic violence.
    

 

• • Start the conversation. Share articles on DomesticShelters.org in your social media, start a conversation at the dinner table, or ask those closest to you if they’ve ever known a survivor (maybe they want to open up about their own experience—sometimes, breaking the silence can be healing. Just make sure not to pressure anyone to share).
    

 

• • Advocate for needed reforms. Survivors and advocates are actively working with lawmakers to pass new legislation to curb domestic violence such as The Safe Child Act, Jennifers’ Law, the Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act

 

• • Fulfill a need on an organization working to end domestic violence’s wish list or a shelter’s wish list.  You can make a financial donation to organizations such as Women Watch Afrika
    

 

• • Hold a fundraiser at your place of employment in honor of survivors and give those funds to organizations working to address domestic violence against women and children.
    

 

• • Consider becoming an advocate for survivors. You don’t need to be a survivor yourself to join the movement.
    

 

• • Listen to a domestic violence podcast. So you can learn more
    

 

• • Pick up some new reading material. The more you read, the more you can understand.
    

 

• • Join the #MoveToEndDV 

 

• • Organize your own event to raise awareness of domestic violence in your community. You could also do your own walk-a-thon, 5K fun run, comedy night or backyard barbeque with friends and donate the proceeds collected to a local nonprofit, agency, or shelter.

 

• • Host a candlelight vigil in your community to honor survivors and victims of domestic violence.

 

• • Involve local restaurants. Ask a local restaurant to donate a percent of their profits on a certain night to a nonprofit working in the field to end domestic violence.

 

• • Get writing. Write an op-ed or editorial raising awareness about domestic violence for your local newspaper or ask the editor of a high school or college newspaper in your community to run a story on teen dating violence (young people are at the most risk for intimate partner violence).