“On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men” (https://ncadv.org/statistics). It’s time to bring awareness and International Day of Non-Violence does just that on October 2.

Originally recognized in January 2004 by Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, International Day of Non-Violence strives to bring awareness to the weighty problem of violence. While physical violence is the most recognized form, there is also emotional violence, verbal violence and domestic violence.

While the International Day of Non-Violence is designed as an occasion to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness,” according to the United Nations, it is also a good time to recognize a fight to eliminate violence at locally and in our own homes. The day is identified as a chance “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence,” according to the General Assembly Resolution to announce this day in 2007.

To see the bigger picture of violence around the world, this day gives us a chance to recognize victims that have been or are suffering from any form of violence. These victims may be forced to stay quiet about their experiences and, as a result, they may have never gotten any justice. A victim that has gone through violence may be left traumatized, physically or emotionally. Abuse can have an extremely long term impact, resulting in depression, anxiety or other symptoms.

Sometimes abuse is not actually recognized until the abuser takes a good look at the behavior and actions, or identifies the damage of their actions.

International Day of Non-Violence gives abusers and their victims a wake-up call to identify the problem and work toward changing the outcome. It can be celebrated by personal actions that deal directly with victims and abusers, or through protests, marches and more.

If you or someone you know is going through any type of violence, consider the International Day of Non-Violence the perfect opportunity to get help. You are always welcome to call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.