At least 119 countries have passed laws on domestic violence, 125 have laws on sexual harassment and 52 have laws on marital rape. However, even when laws exist, this does not mean they are always compliant with international standards and recommendations, or implemented. UN Women
On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a year.
Source: The National Domestic Violence Hotline
Rebecca Shuflin is one of Soroptimist International of the Americas past Live Your Dream Awards recipients. A domestic violence survivor, Rebecca is a mother of six, a social worker, and Master of Social Work (MSW) candidate. With her expertise and personal experience, Rebecca helped SIA create a short video containing Tips for Survivors Seeking A Protective Order (restraining order), in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (USA). "Rebecca is undoubtedly one of the most hardworking, selfless women you could wish to meet" says Nora Blumenstein, Program Manager LiveYourDream.org/Soroptimist International of the Americas. "Her own past hardships and experiences motivated her to pursue a career in social work with a legal perspective".
Rebecca explains: “I rebuilt my life from scratch. Literally. I had left with just a few backpacks and my beautiful children. I had been a stay at home mom for over ten years when I found myself homeless with no money and several children to raise on my own. After enduring heartache and stress while dealing with the court system, I secured a restraining order and sole custody of my children. I wasn’t able to get my belongings back or any child support, but we had each other…"
“I find it very empowering to work with homeless families who have endured great hardship. They work hard to pull their lives back together so that they can get back on their feet again. These families represent my own family and what we once went through. Helping these families has helped my own growth process immensely. I feel that I am finally able to give back to the community that once supported me.”
Needless to say, Rebecca is one very busy lady. A master’s program, career in social work, and single motherhood. Yet when SIA reached out to her about helping with this special Domestic Violence Awareness Month project, Rebecca was more than willing to share her experience. Nora adds: "Rebecca is a true testament to the ripple effect of women helping women".
In the words of one of her past supervisors: “Rebecca will be a true light of hope to all she works with.”
Watch the video to see how bright this light shines.
Video Note: The helpline listed at the end of this video is for those people in the USA.
Sharing Rebecca’s video was part of SIA and LiveYourDream.org’s focus on the need for legal aid for domestic violence survivors during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Nearly 4,000 online community members took action by asking the US Congress to provide domestic violence survivors with free or reduced-cost legal aid, because lawyers can play a pivotal role in reducing domestic violence. Without legal aid, it can be harder for women to get protective orders, leave their abusive partners, and escape the cycle of violence. In addition to helping with a protective order, a free or subsidized lawyer can also provide critical help with related legal issues that may hinder women from leaving abusive relationships, such as child custody and housing. Several SIA members who are lawyers also signed up to mentor domestic violence survivors in need of legal help.
SIA Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence
Established in 1994, the Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to End Domestic
Violence is an ongoing effort to raise awareness about a seldom
addressed domestic violence issue: domestic violence as a workplace
concern. The Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence is a
comprehensive campaign providing information, materials and support
specifically designed for employees who are the target of domestic
abuse, their co-workers and their employers.
Find out more by clicking on this link
Click here to view the Soroptimist White Paper Domestic Violence in the Workplace
"Domestic violence, where one partner abuses another, is a silent
scourge of our time. Violence can take many forms – physical, sexual,
psychological, financial…We all have the right to be safe, especially
in our own homes". Soroptimist International President Yvonne Simpson
The plenary session ‘Defeating Violence’ at the 20th Soroptimist International Convention gave those in attendance a fascinating global perspective. A special address was given by Anne K. Ream, Founder of the Voices and Faces Project, an award winning storytelling project created to bring the testimonies of survivors of gender-based violence to the attention of the public. A Chicago-based
writer, Anne is the co-founder and workshop facilitator for ‘The Stories
We Tell,’ North America’s first testimonial-writing program for
survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
Her book ‘Lived Through This,’ is a truly moving account; stories of rape and
sexual violence survivors who have been shaped, but refuse to be
defined, by their histories of violence.
“Behind the story I tell is the one I wish you could hear”. Anne K Ream
Click on the image above to visit the Voices and Faces Project.
Around the world…
SI Timisoara, Romania (SIE), provided support to a young survivor of domestic violence. Recognising the value that accessing education has for those who have experienced DV in helping transform lives, SI Timisoara ensured that the survivor was able to graduate from high school, and that she was empowered to build her own future.
Often women and children can arrive at refuges and safe houses with only the clothes they are wearing. SI Moreton North Inc, Australia (SISWP), aware of the challenges that the Wadeye Safe House for the Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory face in providing for these women and their children, collected clothing and other items for the safe house. SI Moreton continues to build their relationship with this remote Aboriginal community so that they can provide practical material supplies to assist with the work of the centre.
For the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, SI Whitefield, India (SIGBI) held an awareness-raising event to educate local women and girls about domestic violence. Specifically working with women who live below the poverty line and are at increased risk, SI Whitefield equipped the women with the information they need to recognise domestic violence and to know what help is available. One lady who attended the event was able to go to the police about abuse as a result, and was then able to protect herself and her children.
SI Lae, Papua New Guinea (SISWP) supported their local refuge and helped provide resources for reporting domestic violence. Through their actions, SI Lae ensured that a consultation with women and girls on the issue of domestic violence could be carried-out by the Family Support Centre, Angau General Hospital. The results of this consultation will help drive actions to support women experiencing domestic violence. Building on this success, SI Lae are now looking at how to take their awareness-raising to the next level.
SI Sunderland, UK (SIGBI) supported a local domestic violence drop-in group to publish and distribute a journal about the experiences that they had gone through, moving from victim to survivor. Entitled ‘Our Journey’, the women who wrote it wanted to have the journal printed so it could help other vulnerable women realise there are ways out of abusive relationships. One lady from the group said: "this is the first time I have spoken about my experiences to people who listened and understood".
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