The third week of October marks the annual Week Without Violence which aims to end violence against women and girls.
It comes at a needed time. One of the byproducts of the pandemic and previous stay-at-home orders has been a tragic rise in domestic violence.
Here are some key statistics compiled by the Young Women’s Christian Association:
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- “An estimated 35 percent of women throughout the world have been victims of violence at some point in their life.”
- “Women who experience violence against them have higher rates of depression. Sadly, some women do not survive violent acts against them. Throughout the world, 137 women are killed every day by a member of their own family. In 2017, more than 30,000 women were killed intentionally by their current or former intimate partner.”
- “Less than 40 percent of women who experience violence seek help.”
That last part is key and an opening for real solutions as there is help available right here in LA – please see below. One way you can help is simply by checking in and creating a safe space for your friends and family who might be experiencing violence.