It's not okay!

Abuse, whether it be physical, emotional, sexual, financial or verbal, is not okay. Whether perpetrated against women, children or men, it is not okay.

If you hear of someone who is being abused, please encourage the person to seek help. If you are the victim, please know you are not trapped. It is an awful cycle that needs to be broken, or it will continue to escalate.




There are many organizations that can assist people in difficult situations. There are helplines in most countries of the world to provide advice and assistance.

Below are some of the organizations in the US:

The National Domestic Violence Hotline
http://www.ndvh.org/
(800) 799-SAFE (799-7233)
(800) 787-3224 (TTY)
"The National Domestic Violence Hotline answers more than 16,000 calls per month from victims, survivors, friends and family members, law enforcement personnel, domestic violence advocates and the general public. Hotline advocates provide support and assistance to anyone involved in a domestic violence situation, including those in same-sex relationships, male survivors, those with disabilities, and immigrant victims of domestic violence. All calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline are confidential."

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
http://www.loveisrespect.org/
(866) 331-9474
(866) 331-8453 (TTY)
Text “loveis” to 22522 (SMS)
"The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline … can be accessed by Internet or phone. The Helpline and loveisrespect.org offer real-time one-on-one support from trained advocates."

Battered Women's Justice Project
http://www.bwjp.org/
The project "promotes change within the civil and criminal justice systems to enhance their effectiveness effectiveness in providing safety, security, and justice for battered women and their families."