What is the history of Domestic Violence Awareness Month?
*Adapted from the 1996 Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resource Manual of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children.
The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national levels. The activities conducted were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes:
- Mourning those who have died because of domestic violence
- Celebrating those who have survived
- Connecting those who work to end violence
These three themes remain a key focus of DVAM events today. In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year marks the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort. Each year, the Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Domestic Violence Awareness Events
Read the stories of domestic violence on each of the silhouettes displayed downtown at the Lynchburg Community Market and pick up information about your YWCA.
This will be a socially distant opportunity where you can see the silhouettes when you come to the market for your shopping.
Join YWCA’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program at our annual candlelight vigil held in Nelson County.
This event is held in partnership with Nelson County Victim Witness, Nelson County Domestic Violence Task Force, and the Rockfish Baptist Association of Virginia.
- Event Start Time: 5:30pm
- Event Location: Nelson County Heritage Center
1653 Thomas Nelson Hwy
Arrington, VA 22922 - This event will be held outside and all recommendations from the CDC and Virginia Department of Health will be upheld. Please socially distance at the event and wear a mask.
Domestic Violence: Behind Closed Doors
Join YWCA of Central Virginia’s expert staff to learn more about domestic violence. This training is geared towards those seeking to learn more about domestic violence versus those in the field.
This webinar will “open the door” and cast a light on the abuse in the home. The Domestic Violence Prevention Program staff will cover the basics of domestic violence and explore the methods that abusers use to manipulate their partners into staying. The training will provide some specific steps that friends and family members can use to assist their loved ones. Further, discussions on the “red flags” that may indicate abuse is occurring and the basics of safety planning will be covered. Finally, the link between domestic violence and mass shootings will be discussed.
While the training will be provided for free, registration is required.
- To register in advance for this webinar please click the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kNRtYQ6JTb-0SeYt9mMlww - After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
**This event will be provided via Zoom to abide by all CDC and Virginia Department of Health best practices. **
About Week Without Violence
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. For more than 20 years, we have set aside one week in October as a Week Without Violence – a week to raise awareness and engage action to end the broad spectrum of violence – as part of a global movement with World YWCA to end violence against women and girls.
At YWCA, we know that not all violence is acknowledged or responded to equally and that some victims go unrecognized altogether. That’s why, for the last several years, we have focused on ending gender-based violence, including domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and harassment.
We invite you to join us from October 18 – 24 as we share information, elevate stories, talk with policymakers, and raise awareness with a common goal in mind: together, we can end gender-based violence.
Join YWCA’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program at our annual candlelight vigil held in Campbell County.
This event is held in partnership with Campbell County Victim Witness, Startek, and Campbell County Sheriff’s Office.
- Event Start Time: 6:00pm
- Event Location: StarTech
3412 Waterlick Road
Lynchburg, Virginia 24502 - This event will be held outside and all recommendations from the CDC and Virginia Department of Health will be upheld. Please socially distance at the event and wear a mask.
YWCA of Central Virginia along with YWCA Richmond and YWCA South Hampton Roads is proud to partner with Hollaback! to provide free training to help anyone who attends Stand Up Against Street Harassment in recognition of YWCA Week Without Violence.
This training will be held virtually on Friday, October 23 from 12-1pm.
While the training is free, you must register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEpde6opzwtGdHOqFipvBMo67FM7Emjtsjk
ABOUT STAND UP AGAINST STREET HARASSMENT
Street harassment is an experience that devalues people of all sexual orientations, cultures and beliefs causing them to doubt their own experiences. When we watch harassment happen without intervening, it deepens the trauma for the person being harassed and shows the person doing the harassing that their behavior is OK. We want to disrupt this dynamic one intervention at a time.
When we see someone fall, or drop something in public, we instinctively help out. Why don’t we have the same reaction when we see someone being sexually harassed? We see it happen but uncomfortably look away. We feel the urge to speak up, but stay cautiously silent. We all want to do something about it, but don’t know what. Or worse, we end up thinking it’s “not a big deal.” Not knowing what constitutes street harassment and what to do, limits our ability to take action, chipping away at the self-worth of men and women who suffer from street harassment.
In 2020, Hollaback!, L’Oréal Paris, and the NYC Commission on Gender Equity join forces to ensure everyone’s self-worth, leveraging Hollaback!’s 5 D’s methodology to help people safely intervene when they experience or witness harassment in public spaces. The goal of the Stand Up program is to train 1,000,000 people to become Upstanders before the end of 2021 and ultimately build a culture where street harassment is seen as unacceptable behavior.
Join YWCA’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program at our annual candlelight vigil held in Amherst County.
This event is held in partnership with Amherst County Victim Witness and Mt. Olive Baptist Church.
- Event Start Time: 5:30pm
- Event Location: Amherst County Courthouse, 113 Taylor Street
Amherst, VA 24521 - This event will be held outside and all recommendations from the CDC and Virginia Department of Health will be upheld. Please socially distance at the event and wear a mask.
COVID, Chaos, and Child Abuse
Join YWCA of Central Virginia’s expert staff to learn more about the impacts that the COVID-19 crisis has had on our most vulnerable – our children.
Learn more about domestic violence (this session does build on the first training) and its effects on children; teen dating violence, and explore the rise of domestic violence cases during the pandemic. YWCA’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program staff will also specifically address how the chaos during this unique time has lead to an increase in child abuse cases.
While the event is free, registration is required.
- Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__-G4L1vJR6K23rlAuz_FPA - After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
**This event will be provided via Zoom to abide by all CDC and Virginia Department of Health best practices. **
Support YWCA of Central Virginia and show your advocacy and awareness of Domestic Violence Awareness Month with this limited edition Sweatshirt or t-shirt available here:
https://www.bonfire.com/equal-powerful-unstoppable-lyh/
* All proceeds support YWCA of Central Virginia.
The following businesses, organizations, and communities of faith will have displays in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in partnership with YWCA of Central Virginia. We sincerely appreciate their dedication to making sure every home and relationship is a safe one.
- American Legon – 1301 Greenview Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24502
- Berean Baptist Church – 1400 Greenview Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24502
- Centra Health Systems
- Tree of Life Ministries – 2812 Greenview Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24502
The following businesses, organizations, and communities of faith will be holding events for their communities. We appreciate their dedication to education about domestic violence and prevention.
- Memorial United Methodist Church – Appomattox, VA
- Rocks Baptist Church – Pamplin, VA