October is domestic violence awareness month. I wanted to write a post that brings awareness, not only to domestic violence, but to human trafficking and child abuse as well. Abuse and oppression of women and children is on the rise due to the increase of addictions, poverty, and human trafficking. Women and children are still at risk of abuse in today’s society. Abuse crosses socioeconomic, religious, racial and educational lines. I will let the statistics speak for themselves:
Domestic Abuse
These statistics were found at www.beaconofhopeindy.org:
*Nearly 1 in 4 American women between the age of 18 and 65 have experienced domestic violence.
*Up to 6 million women are believed to be beaten in their homes each year. Only 4 million incidents are reported, and up to 90% of battered women never report their abuse.
*On the average, a woman is battered in the United States by a partner every 9 to 12 seconds.
*50% of all homeless women and children in America are fleeing domestic violence.
*According to the American Medical Association, family violence kills as many women every 5 years as the total number of Americans who died in the Vietnam War (approximately 58,000).
*4 million women require police or medical attention each year due to severe beatings.
*According to studies, up to 30% of arrested batterers who receive treatment will hit, slap, kick, or strangle their spouses within 6 months.
*Approximately one-third of the men counseled (for battering) are professional men who are well respected in their jobs and their communities. These batterers included doctors, psychologists, lawyers, ministers, and business executives.
Human Trafficking
These statistics were found at dosomething.org:
*Trafficking primarily involves exploitation which comes in many forms, including: forcing victims into prostitution, subjecting victims to slavery or involuntary servitude and compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography.
*According to some estimates, approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation.
*There are approximately 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today.
*According to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year, of which 80% are female and half are children.
*The average age a teen enters the sex trade in the U.S. is 12 to 14-year-old. Many victims are runaway girls who were sexually abused as children.
*Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry (behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking). It reportedly generates a profit of $32 billion every year. Of that number, $15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries.
*The International Labor Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims with 11.4 million trafficked victims (55%) compared to 9.5 million (45%) men.
Child Abuse
These statistics were found at www.americanspcc.org:
*The latest 2015 Child Maltreatment Report from The Children’s Bureau was published in January 2017. The report shows an increase in child abuse referrals from 3.6 million to 4 million. The number of children involved subsequently increased to 7.2 million from 6.6 million. The report also indicates an increase in child deaths from abuse and neglect to 1,670 in 2015, up from 1,580 in 2014. Some reports estimate child abuse fatalities at 1,740 or even higher.
*The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations – losing on average almost five (5) children every day to child abuse and neglect.
*Child abuse crosses all socioeconomic and educational levels, religions, ethnic and cultural groups.
*207,000 children received foster care services.
*Annual estimate: 1,670 to 1,740 children died from abuse and neglect.
When it comes to the abuse of women and children, we have a long way to go to bring justice for these victims of abuse and oppression. It is time for us to speak up for those victimized by these injustices. We need to be a voice for those who do not have a voice. We need to be a voice for those women and children who can not speak up for themselves. NO MORE SILENCE! If each one of us uses our voice to advocate for the women and children who are victimized, we have the potential to save the lives of millions of women and children. Why would we not want to do that? I think the statistics speak for themselves. We need to stand up for women and children. We need to be that voice.
NO MORE SILENCE!!!
Patti Burris 
Leave a Reply