SAVE E-lert: Be on the Lookout for Half-Truths that Injure and Kill

SAVE applauds the efforts of organizations that are working to reduce domestic violence. No one should be abused by their intimate partner, and certainly, no one should lose their life this way.

Even though the rates of DV have been going down, men and women are still being victimized. And each year, over 1,000 of these people die.

One way that we can reduce domestic violence is with information. What better way is there to protect people, than to teach them how to avoid abuse?

Sadly, most DV websites are lacking. None of the Fact Sheets we reviewed mentioned these three risk factors:

1. Injury was more than twice as likely when the violence was mutual — 28.4% — compared to unidirectional violence — 11.6%.
2. Female initiation of partner violence is the leading reason for the woman becoming a victim of subsequent injury.
3. Persons who are separated face a risk of partner violence that is 50 times higher the rate of married individuals.

This week, look up your state's Domestic Violence Coalition. You can find it here: http://www.ncadv.org/resources/StateCoalitionList.php

See if they list these risk factors. If not, give them a call or shoot them an email. Let them know that they could be protecting even more people if they update their website.

On behalf of every victim, thank you!

Teri Stoddard, Program Director
Stop Abusive and Violent Environments
www.saveservices.org