Domestic violence is a topic few people want to discuss openly  because of the embarrassment for the  victim or the reluctance to get involved.

This reluctance forces this abomination underground. Lack of visibility does not change its impact or the importance of getting it out of the shadows where society must  actively deal with the ramifications for women and children.

Several nationwide organizations designated October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to emphasize the extent of the problem, but all make it clear that the issue is not only limited to one month.

One of the organizations, Alternative Horizons, which is based in Colorado, offers these sobering insights:

• At least 85 per cent of domestic violence victims are women.
• Females between ages 20 and 24 are at the greatest risk of nonfatal violence from intimate partners.
• Domestic violence is a primary cause of homelessness for women and children.

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month came from the Day of Unity that originated in 1981.

The Day of Unity was created to mourn  people who died from this kind of violence, celebrate those who  survived and connect with the people dedicated to stopping this problem.

More information about the Day of Unity and the Domestic Violence Awareness Project can be found here.

Colorado law states, in part: “For a violent act to qualify as a crime involving domestic violence, the aggressor and the victim must share or have shared an intimate relationship.” More information regarding Colorado domestic violence laws can be found here.

Domestic violence cases do not involve children in the state of Colorado because the law only applies to couples or ex-couples who have been involved with each other.

This website discusses the penalties of domestic violence in Colorado and what constitutes a domestic violence case.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is meant to bring this issue to the attention of the public. Many hotlines and resources are available for those who are involved in a domestic violence incident.

If you know of a person dealing  with domestic violence, there is help, call (303) 831-9632. More information is available from the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence.