Welcome to the NDVH Survivors’ Blog
Every couple of weeks we will post a new blog entry by one of our many wonderful guest bloggers. We invite you to post your comments and discuss issues openly. We are committed to maintaining a positive, caring, non-judgmental environment and allowing open and honest discussions to take place. We will only step in as moderators if there are violations of our Terms of Use and Community Guidelines. Please read them both carefully. If you have any questions, feel free to contact one of our moderators.
Vice President Joe Biden Honors 15th Anniversary of VAWA
Posted: Sep 30, 2009 | Comment
Women’s groups, including National Domestic Violence Hotline CEO Sheryl Cates, gathered at Vice President Joe Biden’s home Tuesday night to toast the 15th anniversary of landmark legislation aimed at eliminating violence against women.
“You’ve helped so many women step out of the darkness. You’ve helped so many young girls expect a different future, expect different treatment,” Biden said as he commemorated the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. “This is a day to celebrate. We have so much to be proud of.”
In addition to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, The National Women’s Law Center, FaithTrust Institute, National Network to End Domestic Violence and American Association of University Women were among the groups invited to the vice president’s residence, located on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory in northwest Washington.
Biden recalled how domestic violence was once regarded as a private matter. “It wasn’t the business of the government. It’s a family matter,” he told about 100 guests. Advocates for women inspired a different attitude, he said.
The Violence Against Women Act, crafted by Biden while he served on the Senate Judiciary Committee as a senator from Delaware, led to more money for women’s shelters and law-enforcement training.
Domestic violence rates fell sharply between 1993 and 2004. The Bureau of Justice Statistics said that “intimate partner violence” rates fell by more than 50 percent, which some experts attributed to key elements of the 1994 law.
Take Time to Observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Posted: Sep 28, 2009 | Comment
With October approaching, domestic violence advocates across the nation are preparing for the 22nd annual observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Whether you are a professional in the field of domestic violence or someone who is new to the cause, we hope you will take a few moments during October to consider the issue and remember those whose lives are affected by it.
Beginning as a Day of Unity observation in October 1981, the observance grew into the first domestic violence awareness month in October 1987. The current year’s observance is especially hopeful due to the appointment of Lynn Rosenthal as the first-ever White House advisor on violence against women. This appointment marks the changing attitude from domestic violence as a silent epidemic to a societal issue for which everyone shares a responsibility.
Programs across the nation will focus their efforts on celebrating the strength and courage of those who have been affected by domestic violence and hosting educational programs to raise public awareness of the issue.
Buy Shoes at Marshalls and Benefit the Hotline
Posted: Sep 15, 2009 | Comment
Buying a pair of shoes at any Marshalls store between October 1 and 15, 2009 will benefit the Hotline. As part of the Marshalls Shop ’til It Stops program, $1 will be donated to the National Domestic Violence Hotline for
each pair of shoes sold during this period (up to $150,000).
For the past 18 years, Marshalls has raised millions of dollars and
generated tremendous awareness in an effort to help put an end to domestic violence in the United States through their annual Shop til it Stops program. This year for the first time, the National Domestic Violence Hotline will benefit from this program. Be sure to visit Marshalls to support us!
Attention GFWC members: Have fun shopping for our cause!
Sheryl Cates Weighs in on Chris Brown’s Controversial Statements
Posted: Sep 4, 2009 | Comment
Sheryl Cates, CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline was recently interviewed by MTV in regards to Chris Brown’s most recent television appearance on Larry King Live. Please visit the following link to read the entire MTV article and view her thoughts on the subject.
White House Advisor on Violence Against Women Appointed
Posted: Jun 30, 2009 | Comment
Lynn Rosenthal was recently chosen as White House Advisor on Violence Against Women by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Rosenthal has been a champion in the movement against domestic and sexual violence for three decades and played a key advocacy role in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. She currently serves as the Executive Director for the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence and and is a previous Executive Director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence and of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Rosenthal will advise President Obama and Biden, and work with government agencies including Justice, State, and Health to ensure that violence against women is addressed and the perpetrators are held accountable. Biden has said that creating the advisor position will allow the White House to revive its focus on domestic violence issues.
Sheryl Cates Honored by Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus Group
Posted: May 19, 2009 | Comment
Sheryl Cates, CEO of the Texas Council on Family Violence, National Domestic Violence Hotline and loveisrespect.org, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline received the Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy. Cates was nominated for the national award by Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX-21) pictured, and presented the award by Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX-2), co-chair of the Caucus. (more…)
Vice President Joe Biden Visits the Hotline
Posted: Apr 28, 2009 | Comment
Vice President Joe Biden made a visit to the National Domestic Violence Hotline and loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline on Tuesday April 28, 2009 for a press event and tour of the facilities. This was his second visit to the organizations in six years. The Office on Violence Against Women Acting Director Catherine Pierce and Austin Mayor Will Wynn joined the Vice President at this event.
Vice President Joe Biden’s support for the National Domestic Violence Hotline and his vision for safe families has been unwavering. Biden is the author of the landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA). The National Domestic Violence Hotline was established in 1996 as a component of VAWA passed by Congress.
VAWA changed the way law enforcement and the legal system handled domestic violence cases. VAWA provided $1.6 billion to enhance investigation and prosecution of the violent crime perpetrated against women, increased pre-trial detention of the accused and imposed automatic and mandatory restitution on those convicted. Biden also helped accomplish the reauthorization of the Act in 2005.
Nearly six years ago, Senator Biden recruited a core group of the nation’s leading technology companies to visit the Hotline and listen first-hand to crisis calls. The result of Biden’s first visit to the Hotline was a $2.7 million plan to replace existing technology with new systems integrating telephone technology with new computer and database technology. The advanced technology has helped save the lives of thousands of women, children and families.
Animal Cruelty and Domestic Violence
Posted: Apr 27, 2009 | Comment
Animal cruelty and domestic violence often go hand in hand. Batterers sometimes use abuse of pets as a way of intimidating or controlling other family members. They may threaten to hurt the pet if the victim leaves or threaten to physically abuse the victim in the same way. During Prevention of Animal Cruelty month this April, learn more about this issue and how you can help by visiting the ASPCA webpage about domestic violence and animal cruelty.
Upcoming Dr. Phil Episode Promotes the Hotline
Posted: Apr 22, 2009 | Comment
Leaving a violent relationship takes careful planning. Thursday, April 23, Dr. Phil will feature a woman who called the Hotline and went to shelter with her children to escape family violence in a show called How to Escape a Bad Marriage. Don’t miss it. (more…)
Author of “Crazy Love” Speaks Out Against Domestic Violence
Posted: Mar 26, 2009 | Comment
Here’s what I want to say to everyone who is obsessed with Chris Brown and Rihanna, including Oprah, Dr. Phil, The New York Times, The Washington Post, TMZ, and the other 34 million Google hits on their names: Thank you! Shining a spotlight on abusive violence is good for everyone. Abuse is a crime. If you are being abused, you need help immediately — and you need to end the abusive relationship. Our society and criminal justice system need to hold abusers responsible for their actions, and stop further abuse.
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