Five American women are beaten by their partners every minute of every day. Four women in the U.S. are killed by members of their family each day. These grim statistics are a prime reason that October has been designated Domestic
Five American women are beaten by their partners every minute of every
day.
Four women in the U.S. are killed by members of their family each
day.
These grim statistics are a prime reason that October has been
designated Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Nancy Peterson has worked
with victims of domestic violence on Kaua`i for 13 years. She is now the
program director for the YWCA Family Violence Shelter.
As part of Domestic
Violence Awareness Month, the shelter will stage its annual candlelight vigil
Oct. 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. Michael’s All Angels Church on Hardy Street in
Lihu`e.
“We always have food, entertainment and speakers. This year we are
targeting violence against women,” Peterson said.
On Oct. 19, the YWCA and
the shelter are also sponsoring Swim against the Tide of Violence at the Kaua`i
Athletic Club. Participants will raise money through pledges for laps swum
instead of miles walked.
The swim “goes on all day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
People can come in and swim laps,” Peterson explained.
She said the battle
against domestic violence, although far from over on Kaua`i, has
progressed.
“Domestic violence affects all races, cuts through all economic
classes,” she said. On Kaua`i, “segments of the population have historically
kept quiet. It was a shame issue, and there was a thing about talking about
domestic violence.
“But now we are seeing more people who are Japanese and
Filipino come forward for services. People ask me if it’s getting worse (in
those communities). I don’t think so. I think the message (about domestic
violence) has gotten out.”
Peterson said an average of four families
islandwide stay in the shelter residential program, and another 15 or 20
families are requesting counseling or seeking restraining orders.
“Requests
for restraining orders are up. We did maybe 60 a year (a decade ago) and now we
do 140 a year,” Peterson said.
She said the assistance domestic violence
counselors get from local law enforcement has also increased.
“Certainly we
need more education for our police. But things have changed dramatically.
There’s been a tremendous change for the better,” Peterson said. “I remember
years ago, a previous police chief said to me, ‘You know, Nancy, it’s really
hard to make these changes. We’ve always treated it (domestic violence) like a
family problem. It’s hard to make that leap (to make an arrest for domestic
violence).’ That has changed. I tell police officers now it’s a personal
liability (for them) if they do not make that arrest.”
Despite 13 years
helping the victims of domestic violence, Peterson maintains a positive
attitude and sees solutions.
“Domestic violence is a learned behavior which
is reinforced by cultural and social beliefs. I firmly believe that the men who
batter do not have good self-esteem,” she said.
In addition to the
shelter-sponsored events, Oct 16-20 has been designated YWCA Week Without
Domestic Violence. A big part of the observance is the Purple Ribbon Campaign,
a national effort to reduce domestic violence in our communities.
Purple
ribbons for people to wear or attach to automobile antennas will be displayed
at businesses across Kaua`i. A small poster explaining the campaign and
listing participating businesses will also be available.
The campaign is
sponsored by Americorps.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at
245-3681 (ext. 252) and [
HREF=”mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net”>dwilken@pulitzer.net]
