The Issues

1.Statistics

1)  Women In Need Center Statistics 2010

WINC’s Hotline consisted of total of 140 hotline consultations  from 75 cases based on the graphs below. We provided shelters for total of 23 cases and 2 children.

 

2) NYC Domestic Violence Statistics 2010

 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EMERGENCY SHELTER

According to the Human Resources Administration, there are 2,144, domestic violence emergency shelter beds citywide, a 35% increase since January 2002.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE

Police responded to 250,349 domestic violence incidents in 2009; this averages to over 650 incidents per day. In addition, NYPD’s Domestic Violence Unit conducted 69,188 home visits in 2009, a 79% increase since 2002.

As of 6/30/2010, the City’s Domestic Violence Hotline advocates answered 57,040 calls since the beginning of the year. In 2009, the City’s Domestic Violence Hotline advocates answered 140,985 calls, averaging more than 380 calls per day.

(Source: Statistics provided by NYPD and Safe Horizon)

 

2. International Marriage

1)Domestic Violence : Immigrant Women

An immigrant is someone who has moved to the United States from another country. The terms “documented” and “undocumented” refer to documents (papers) saying whether someone has the legal right to be in this country or not. Undocumented immigrants are sometimes called “illegal aliens.”

You have the right to live free from violence in the home whether you are documented or undocumented.

Some immigrant women are brought to this country by people who lie to them and promise a good job or an arranged marriage once they get to the United States. When they arrive, however, their money and documents are taken from them and they are forced to work as prostitutes or in other jobs that demean them sexually and put them in danger. This is sometimes called “trafficking.”

Your abuser may have told you that getting help would get you in trouble but really, there is a possibility that the abuser could be deported if he is arrested and is undocumented. Also, it may be possible for you to get legal status in the United States without the help of the abuser.

If you have a legal status in this country, but do not speak English well, you should know that people are there to help you. For example, the NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline can help people in up to 120 languages. Some organizations and services may be able to provide interpretation for non-English-speaking people.

The agency that handles immigration is United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They used to be called Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS). As an immigrant woman, you should never call USCIS directly. You should get an attorney who specializes in immigration to help you figure things out. Your attorney can help you contact USCIS if necessary. Try to get an attorney through your domestic violence program.

You have the right to live free from violence in the home whether you are documented or undocumented. If you have been the victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, help is available. Please do not let threats to have you removed from this country stop you from getting help.

Even if you are currently undocumented, here are some things you can do to get safe:

  • Call the police.
  • Use domestic violence programs.
  • Call rape crisis centers.
  • Apply for some victim assistance funds.
  • Get emergency Medicaid.
  • Get treatment in emergency rooms.
  • Get an order of protection.
  • Apply for legal residency status in some cases

 

3. Domestic Violence

1) Domestic Violence Definition

 

Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating.

Examples of abuse include:

  • name-calling or putdowns
  • keeping a partner from contacting their family or friends
  • withholding money
  • stopping a partner from getting or keeping a job
  • actual or threatened physical harm
  • sexual assault
  • stalking
  • intimidation

Violence can be criminal and includes physical assault (hitting, pushing, shoving, etc.), sexual abuse (unwanted or forced sexual activity), and stalking. Although emotional, psychological and financial abuse are not criminal behaviors, they are forms of abuse and can lead to criminal violence.

The violence takes many forms and can happen all the time or once in a while. An important step to help yourself or someone you know in preventing or stopping violence is recognizing the warning signs listed on the “Violence Wheel.”

ANYONE CAN BE A VICTIM! Victims can be of any age, sex, race, culture, religion, education, employment or marital status. Although both men and women can be abused, most victims are women. Children in homes where there is domestic violence are more likely to be abused and/or neglected. Most children in these homes know about the violence. Even if a child is not physically harmed, they may have emotional and behavior problems.

If you are being abused, REMEMBER

  1. You are not alone
  2. It is not your fault
  3. Help is available

The following checklist may help you decide if you or someone you know is being abused.

Does your partner:

  • constantly criticize you and your abilities as a spouse or partner, parent or employee?
  • behave in an over-protective manner or become extremely jealous?
  • threaten to hurt you, your children, pets, family members, friends or himself?
  • prevent you from seeing family or friends?
  • get suddenly angry or lose his temper?
  • destroy personal property or throw things around?
  • deny you access to family assets like bank accounts, credit cards, or the car, or control all finances and force you to account for what you spend?
  • withhold medication or deny you access to health care?
  • threaten to reveal your HIV status?
  • force you to work in jobs not of your choosing?
  • use intimidation or manipulation to control you or your children?
  • hit, punch, slap, kick, shove, choke or bite you?
  • deny you access to your immigration documents?
  • prevent you from going where you want to, when you want to, and with whomever you want to?
  • make you have sex when you don’t want to or do things sexually that you don’t want to do?
  • control your expression of gender identity or sexual orientation?
  • threaten to out you if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual?
  • humiliate or embarrass you in front of other people?

 

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be a victim of domestic violence. You are not to blame and you are not alone – millions of women are abused by their partners every year. Not all acts of domestic violence are violations of the law. In any case, you do not have to face domestic violence alone. You deserve help, and Help is Available.