Forcing Girls Into Marriage Links to Poverty and Death

This is an abuse of human rights!

Click on the statement above for an important informative video....

Domestic Violence and Poverty

“I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.”  (Psalm 140:12)

On October 30^th I will speak at a conference entitled: “Partnership for the Elimination of Poverty.” This conference will promote the end of world poverty through a shift of global funding. My talk will address the relationship between domestic violence and poverty. Did you know that domestic violence is the second leading cause of homelessness among women? Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness. Nationally, approximately half of all women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing domestic violence.

It is outrageous in our civilized modern society that this epidemic of domestic violence is allowed to carry on. How can we expect women to have the courage to report domestic violence if there is no solid safety net helping them deal with the “fall out” in their lives which also gravely affects their children when they report this crime of violence?

Violence against women occurs in epidemic proportions! The National Violence Against Women Survey found in a 12 month period: 302,091 women experienced rape, and 1,913,243 experienced physical assault, for a total of over 2 million women experiencing violence per year. Throughout their lifetime 1 in 6 women in the US experienced an attempted or completed rape, and 1 in 2 (52%) experienced a physical assault.

Many assaults against women are committed by an intimate partner: 25 percent of surveyed women said they were raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, a co-habitating partner, or a date at some point in their life.

Prevalence of intimate partner violence is much higher among welfare recipients: estimates range from 63 to 75 percent reporting serious physical abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetimes.

Why is the disease of domestic violence allowed to remain so prevalent? Churches must step up and publicly address this crime in our communities and world. Never should a family regret reporting the abuse they suffered behind the closed doors of their homes. Yet, many find their living standard spirals down to poverty level due to: the loss of income, job interruptions, loss of healthcare benefits, and possibly loss of housing due to losing the financial support from the abuser after making a report. A system of community advocacy and support that connects available resources with the families who are suffering due to domestic violence upheaval is gravely needed. Coordination of services for the survival of these families is vital to their healing and recovery.

Jesus commands us all to: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” including your neighbor who is being abused behind closed doors. Advocate for them. No longer turn a blind eye to the epidemic around us. Prevent dating abuse by teaching our teens to stand against violence. Print out and distribute this helpful guide from Jersey Battered Women Services: http://www.jbws.org/documents/InformationforTeens_001.pdf

If you are being abused, remember:

• You are not to blame for being battered or mistreated.
• You are not the cause of your partner’s abusive behavior.
• You deserve to be treated with respect.
• You deserve a safe and happy life.
• Your children deserve a safe and happy life.
• You are not alone. There are people waiting to help.

(See: www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_help_treatment_prevention.htm)

---

1 U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey 2007 Annual Social and Economic Supplement, Microdata, calculation conducted by the Mid-America Institute on Poverty of Heartland Alliance.

2 Tjaden, P., & Thoennes, N. (1998, November). Prevalence, incidence and consequences of violence against women: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. National Institute of Justice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research in Brief. Washington, DC:U.S. Department of Justice.