Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is a sweeping national movement that works to bring domestic violence and its prevention to the front of public debate.

Every October, hundreds of DVAM activities are planned across the country. National, statewide and community-based domestic violence prevention and victim service organizations around the nation mark DVAM with recognition ceremonies, memorial activities, public education campaigns, community outreach events, news conferences and much more

History

DVAM evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). The intent was to connect battered womens advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became a special week when a range of activities was conducted at the local, state and national levels.

These activities were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had a common theme:

• mourning those who died as a result of domestic violence
• honoring those who have survived domestic violence
• connecting those who work to end domestic violence

In October 1987, the first national Domestic Violence Awareness Month was held. In conjunction, that same year the first national toll-free hotline was begun. In 1989, Congress passed the first DVAM commemorative legislation. Such legislation has been passed every year since 1989. The Day of Unity is now celebrated the first Monday in October.

Reaching out with a message

Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities and outreach initiatives at national, state, and local levels generally focus on:

• building awareness that domestic violence is a crime and that it occurs in every community
• alerting the public to services and interventions that can help battered women and their children
• encouraging community responsibility for prevention
• increasing global awareness that domestic violence is a human rights violation and is linked to other forms of violence and oppression

Visit the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women