News : October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Many Iowans still affected

 The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) welcomes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  We at ICADV believe that raising awareness of this issue of domestic violence is vital to our efforts to prevent and end violence against women and children.  Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive and controlling behavior that can include physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse (using money and financial tools to exert control).  Domestic violence is a pervasive, life-threatening crime that affects millions of individuals across the Iowa regardless of age, economic status, race, religion or education.

One in four women will be the victim of domestic violence at some point during her life.  On average, three women are killed every day in the U.S. at the hands of a current or former intimate partner.

 On September 30, the Iowa Attorney General's Department of Justice CVAD released information about the murders of 216 Iowans killed in domestic violence murders since January 1, 1995.  At the release date of this information 14 Iowans have been murdered in Domestic Violence Crimes in 2010.  Half of those murders occurred between April 30 and September 30, 2011.  Fifty-five percent of the victims were shot to death.  In addition to the murder of adult Iowans, 25 children have been killed in domestic abuse murders since 1995. 

The July 1 ban on firearms by abusers is a step in the right direction to help prevent this kind of crime.  The bill prohibits possession of firearms by persons who are the subjects of domestic abuse protective orders or who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic abuse.

As shocking and tragic as the deaths of the victims are, these crimes also leave surviving children greatly and adversely affected.  Since 1995, 258 children survived the murder of a parent by an intimate partner.  Sixty-eight of those children were present at the scene of the murder.

The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence seeks to engage all people in a movement to change the social and political systems that perpetuate violence against women.  We do this through education, advocacy, and quality victim services.  Throughout the month of October, ICADV will continue to share relevant data and information about Domestic Violence in Iowa.  Please contact ICADV at 515.244.8028.