A Column from the Desk of Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C-Deerpark)
The unfortunate truth is that domestic violence is a reality so many had to live with for so long. For example, October wasn’t declared as Domestic Violence Awareness Month until 1989. For context, that was the year I was in the fourth grade. It’s a sobering realization that abuse and assault were allowed to be perpetrated in civilized society for so many generations. And the thing is that violence isn’t always about a partner relationship. Children can just as easily become ensnared into the cycle of violence at home. And because it happens at home, no one can know from just a glance if it is happening or not.The purpose of the awareness campaign during this month is to allow victim advocates, professionals, survivors and the community to mourn and support those who have gone through it, and those who have managed to come out the other side. An average of 24 people per minute are victims of sexual abuse, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the U.S., and more than 12 million women and men are impacted over the course of a single year. Nearly 3 in 10 U.S. women and 1 in 10 U.S. men have experienced rape, physical violence or stalking by a partner and reported it having an impact on their functioning. It’s a vicious, toxic cycle, and because it’s interpersonal, it’s often a challenge to talk about or address for those trying to escape. Intimate partner violence impacts more than 12 million people every year, which is why talking about the problem is so important. This month is dedicated to the goal of supporting survivors and encouraging engagement on the issue. If anyone is going through a situation like this, I implore them to call the Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or visit the state’s website for more information: https://opdv.ny.gov/survivors-victims. Assemblyman Brabenec represents the 98th District, which includes the city of Port Jervis, the towns of Deerpark, Greenville, Mount Hope, Wawayanda, Minisink, Warwick, Tuxedo and portions of the towns of Goshen, Monroe and Ramapo. For more information, please visit his Official Website at www.yourfavoriteassemblyman.com.
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