BY DESIREE NORMAN, HCWC MCCOY FAMILY SHELTER PROGRAM DIRECTOR
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The following article is part five of a five-week series focusing on raising awareness about domestic violence. One in three women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Locally, the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center serves victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Last year, HCWC served 2,055 victims of abuse primarily from Hays and Caldwell counties, and 816 of those were victims of domestic violence.
In 2021, the United Nations coined the phrase “shadow pandemic” in a report that examined the unprecedented increase in violence against women that occurred during the COVID pandemic. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine estimates that domestic violence cases increased by 25% to 33% worldwide during the pandemic. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is reporting an all-time high of over 80,000 contacts monthly from individuals seeking assistance for interpersonal abuse. Similarly, HCWC has experienced a significant increase in individuals seeking information and assistance through our HELPline, with our call volume up 13% through August 2022.
