Opinion: Domestic violence is the pandemic within the pandemic. Here’s what you need to know. – Iowa City Press-Citizen

Annie Tucker| Guest opinion

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Gender-based violence is a violation of human rights. It is a public health crisis, locally in the Corridor and across the globe, and includes domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, and all forms of violence in families and communities.

Domestic violence is a pattern of intentional violent and coercive behaviors between people in an intimate or family relationship. It involves physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, financial and psychological forms of abuse with the goal of gaining and maintaining power and control over someone. It is not a matter of anger management: Most abusers manage their tempers well at work, in the community, etc.

More than 1 in 3 women and more than 1 in 7 men in the United States have experienced physical abuse, sexual violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Most cases of domestic assault are never reported to the police, especially by members of historically marginalized communities.

Domestic violence is perpetrated by and affects people of all income levels, all educational levels, all professions, all races, religions, ages and sexual identities. No one is immune.

Over the past 18 months, the COVID-19 crisis has exposed and worsened the deep, systemic inequalities that exist throughout society both here in the United States and around the world. During this time, COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on systemically oppressed communities.

Domestic violence has been called the pandemic within the pandemic. It has further disproportionately affected people whose social identities are intersectional, especially because these identities are tied to lack of privileges and discrimination.

People committed to a safe and just society have been working determinedly to eradicate gender-based violence and to support those affected by it.

The Johnson County Coalition Against Domestic Violenceobserves Domestic Violence Awareness Month by presenting the Pat Meyer Vision Award to a local individual and a business or organization for their work to prevent or end domestic violence or their support of domestic violence survivors. Ending domestic violence was and is Pat Meyers vision. Meyer founded the first shelter in Iowa City and was the first director of DVIP, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program. Current advocates continue to provide services and resources to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking here in the Corridor.

The 2021 winners of the Pat Meyer Vision Award are Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel and Big Grove Brewery.

The awards will be presented at noon Oct. 28 at the Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A. The event will also be accessible on Zoom. The event is free and open to the public, and boxed lunches and bottled water will be provided.

For more information, descriptions of the winners work, the Zoom link, and updates, go to:Facebook: @jccadv; Instagram: @jccadv; Twitter: @JCCADV1

Or contact: jciowacadv@gmail.com

How to recognize abusive behaviors:https://www.thehotline.org/

How to recognize early warning signs of an abusive relationship:https://www.huffpost.com/entry/early-warning-signs-of-an_b_6009076

How to help prevent sexual violence by being an active bystander and choosing intervention, not silence: (From RVAP, Rape Victim Advocacy Program, in Iowa City):https://rvap.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/74d9c6dc78/Bystander-ALL-Brochure-4.20.15.pdf

What to say to someone you think is being abused:http://www.clicktoempower.org/domestic-violence-facts/what-to-say-when-you-think-someone-is-being-abused

Local resources:

Johnson County:

Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) Hotline: 319-351-1043. Toll Free: 800-373-1043.

Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity: 319-466-9000 or 866-881-4641

Nisaa African Family Services: 319-333-2453

Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP) Crisis Line: 319-335-6000 or 800-228-1625

Womens Resource & Action Center (WRAC): 319-335-1486

Linn County:

Waypoint: 24 hour Crisis & Support Line 319-363-2093 or 800-208-0388

Annie Tucker ofIowa City is the director of Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa and a member of the Johnson County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

See the original post here:

Opinion: Domestic violence is the pandemic within the pandemic. Here's what you need to know. - Iowa City Press-Citizen