Domestic Violence is far too common an Occurrence in Relationships. Approximately 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 10 men (10%) have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an IPV-related impact during their lifetime. (Source: CDC Report)
Globally, about 1 in 3 women (35%) have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Globally, about 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner. (Source: WHO Report)
Approximately 1 in 4 children (26.4%) worldwide have experienced physical abuse, and 1 in 5 girls (18%) have experienced sexual abuse before the age of 18. (Source: World Bank Overview).
Solutions Are Long Overdue!!
Solution 1: We Need New & Improved Laws to protect women who’ve been victims of Domestic Violence. Contact your local, state, and national representatives & let your voice be heard: new laws are needed!! (As of the time of this post, we are in an election year in the United States. The Public Demand is in our favor!
Solution 2:A Bridge from solution 1, we need no-contact restraining orders to be issued & enforced IMMEDIATELY after the first reported instance of domestic abuse with it only being lifted after an acquittal. The first offense of a broken no-contact/restraining order being an ankle monitor & restrictive house arrest, the second being jail before trial.
Solution 3: A Bridge from Solution 1 & 2, we need laws which allow for intervention from family members, close friends, and nearby neighbors to intervene in confrontational domestic issues. This should include calling law enforcement, separating fighting couples by means which de-escalate but are non-excessive in nature (This can be extrapolated on via a case-by-case basis). This would prevent many domestic violence issues from escalating.
Solution 4:Local Communities should offer both group meetings for people who’ve experienced domestic violence with self-defense training group experiences. Such self-defense training includes fighting: karate, jiu-jitsu and/or muay-thai training, firearms training including handguns, pepper spray, and stun gun training. This not only improves confidence in a vulnerable moment of someone’s life, but it offers a viable defense in threatening situations.
Solution 5:A Nationwide Buddy program including groups of four or more people: two or more women & at least two men in each group; Honorable Men from backgrounds which make them capable of stepping in confrontational situations: high-level self defense, bouncers, former military servicemen & police officers. Doing this will allow women to feel safe in vulnerable situations.