Sobering news leading up to October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month: The study “NO MORE Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Survey of Attitudes and Experiences of Teens and Adults” (conducted by GfK Public Affairs & Corporate Communications and commissioned by the Avon Foundation for Women) shows an urgent need for increased awareness, conversation and education around domestic violence and sexual assault, with an emphasis on what bystanders can do to prevent violence and help victims before it is too late. A few of the key findings include:
- 60% of Americans know a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault
- Three out of four (73%) parents with children under the age of 18 said that they have not had a conversation about domestic violence or sexual assault with their children.
- 67% of Americans say they have not talked about domestic violence with their friends; even more, 73% have not discussed sexual assault.
- Even though 75% of Americans say that they would step in and help a stranger being abused, the reality is most people do not help.
- For example, among the 70% of women who experienced domestic violence and then told someone about it, more than half (58%) said that no one helped them.
- But 64% of Americans say if we talk more about domestic violence and sexual assault, it would make it easier to help someone.
The full data report can be seen at nomore.org/nomorestudy.
Directly addressing the findings of this study, the NO MORE campaign — launched earlier this year and supported in part by Kaiser Permanente — this week released a series of PSAs aimed at raising awareness and engaging bystanders to get involved if they know someone in danger due to domestic violence. The PSAs were directed by actor and advocate Mariska Hargitay, who is the president and founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation, which spearheaded the campaign.
The NO MORE PSAs are available at no cost to non-profit organizations, universities and corporations across the country to co-brand and increase support in their local communities for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and services. Read more about the campaign and this news here.
We’ve featured one of the video PSAs below, but you can see them all at www.nomore.org/psas. People are encouraged to join the conversation on Twitter at hashtag #NOMOREexcuses, where celebrities, experts and advocates will promote and share updates on the PSA launch.
