YWCA USA: Week Without Violence: October 16-20

For Immediate ReleaseOctober is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. During the third week of October (October 16-20) YWCAs across the country recognize Week Without Violence, part of a global movement to end violence against women and girls with YWCAs across the country and around the world. At YWCA, we know that not all violence is acknowledged or responded to equally. That's why, for more than 20 years, YWCA has set aside one week in October as a Week Without Violence.Gender based violence touches us all:One in four women will be impacted by domestic violence in her lifetime, every day three of these women will be murdered by her intimate partner.One in three girls is a victim of physical, verbal or emotional abuse in the United States.Every two minutes another American is sexually assaulted.STATEMENT BY YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo"The statistics are staggering. Women of all backgrounds and identities experience gender based violence. But some face more difficulty than others in finding the support they need. Women of color experience higher rates of violence and have a harder time accessing needed resources. Poverty, lack of safe and affordable housing, health concerns, racial inequality or immigration status and long-standing inequality in public policies and social safety nets can compound an already traumatic experience for many women and girls, especially those of color or marginalized identities."YWCA works every day to address the challenges faced by survivors. As the largest provider of domestic violence services in the country, YWCA provides a broad range of services to support victims of gender based violence, including emergency shelter and housing for women and families, crisis hotlines, counseling, and court assistance."Until a world without violence exists, we will work to ensure that survivors of violence have access to the resources they need to get and stay safe and to heal. But, there is more we all need to do. I invite you to join us for Week Without Violence by attending an event in your community, educating others, and advocating to your elected officials for legislation and public policies that help reduce violence and keep survivors safe. We must all commit to eradicating sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, trafficking in women and girls, and dating violence. Join us from October 16 to 20 as we hold events, share information and personal stories, advocate, and more. Our mission is bold: to end gender-based violence. Together we can make that happen!"Learn more about YWCA's Week without Violence and find an event near you. About YWCA USAYWCA USA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. We are one of the oldest and largest women's organizations in the nation, serving over 2 million women, girls, and their families.YWCA has been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for more than 150 years — from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform. Today, we combine programming and advocacy in order to generate institutional change in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls, and health and safety of women and girls.###