Participants in the annual Men’s March Against Violence gather at the State Capitol Oct. 13. (HCH photo | Patrick Downes)
By Kristin Leandro
Special to the Herald
Did you know that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month? In October 1981, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence observed the first “Day of Unity” with the primary intent of connecting advocates working to end violence against women and children across the United States. The Day of Unity evolved into a week devoted to a variety of activities organized at the local, state and national levels, focusing on three common themes:
Mourning those who have died due to domestic violence
Celebrating survivors of domestic violence
Connecting individuals who work to end violence
The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed in October 1987, the year the first National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) was established. Two years later, in 1989, Congress passed Public Law 101-112, designating October of that year as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Since then, such legislation has passed annually.
Each year, there are events marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month in which we can all easily participate, activities that demonstrate a stand against domestic violence:
Here in Hawaii, the 22nd Annual Men’s March Against Domestic Violence was held on Oct. 13. At noon, marchers gathered at the State Capitol Rotunda and walked to Honolulu Hale for a rally in support of nonviolence. Although the march is designated for men, all members of the community are welcome to join them and participate in the rally. Organizers of the event include Catholic Charities Hawaii, the City and County of Honolulu, Kaiser Permanente, PACT (Parents and Children Together), PHOCUSED (Protecting Hawaii’s Ohana, Children, Underserved, Elderly and Disabled), the Domestic Violence Action Center, and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
This year, the National Week of Action is Oct. 16-23. Each day of the eight-day observance emphasizes a theme with suggested activities. Topics include increasing awareness of and starting conversations about domestic violence issues, as well as showing support for individuals whose lives have been impacted by the pain of domestic violence.
One of the ways we can all easily engage in the National Week of Action is by participating in #PurpleThursday on Oct. 20. By wearing or displaying purple on this date and throughout the month of October, we can take a stand against domestic violence and show our support for survivors and their families. Why purple? The color purple represents the courage, survival, honor and dedication required to end domestic violence; it has a long been used as a symbol by women seeking justice.
The U.S. Catholic bishops have taken a public stance against domestic violence. In their statement, “When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women,” they said “Violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified. Violence in any form — physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal is sinful; often, it is a crime as well.”
The statement, released in 1992 and updated this year, affirms the Catholic Church’s stance against domestic violence as well as our support for victims. It addresses abused women, men who abuse, pastors and pastoral staff; it also provides statistics, resources and information about domestic violence. It offers practical suggestions for dioceses and parishes based on actual experiences. The full statement is on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website, www.usccb.org.
Approximately one in four women and one in seven men will be affected by domestic violence in their lifetimes. Even if you have not experienced abuse in any of your relationships, there is a good chance someone you know has. Domestic violence affects all of us; we all share the responsibility of raising awareness and speaking out on behalf of victims and survivors. Will you join me in participating in the National Week of Action and wearing purple throughout the month of October?
For more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the National Week of Action, visit the National Network to End Domestic Violence website at www.nnedv.org.
Kristin Leandro is the director of the diocesan office of Safe Environment which oversees the protection of children from sexual abuse.
