New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women highlights progress, future goals to end domestic violence

To kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women held a special press conference highlighting the progress and future goals of the coalition to address domestic violence in New Jersey.

“I am proud to announce that the coalition will now be known as the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence. We are making this change to reflect our broader goal of preventing and ultimately ending domestic violence for every victim,” Jane Shivas, executive director of New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women, said during the press conference. “Since 1978, the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women has had the privilege to serve as a statewide association providing leadership, support and resources on the response and prevention of violence against women in New Jersey.”

According to Shivas, more than 30 deaths have occurred due to domestic violence in New Jersey since October 2014.

“In each of these cases we know there were opportunities where more could have been done… This violence is preventable,” she said.

To reduce domestic violence and increase knowledge about the issue, the organization encourages the following:

Name domestic violence in conversations, in interventions and in media reports and stories;
Acknowledge that domestic violence happens in every community, to individuals of all backgrounds and cultures regardless of sex, gender, ability, race, religion, socioeconomic status, or education level;
Enhance communities’ understanding of domestic violence, including its root causes and risk factors;
Promote healthy relationships for children, teens and adults; and
Build communities in which violence is not tolerated and inform individuals with tools and information on appropriate and safe interventions to reference when concerned with the safety or well-being of others.

“Let’s take a stand against domestic violence. Not just today — and not just this month — but every day, each of us must act. We can all do something to help someone in an abusive relationship. Together we can end domestic violence in New Jersey,” Shivas concluded. – by Amanda Oldt

For more information:

Visit www.njcedv.org/events to learn more about events the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence and member organizations are sponsoring throughout October.