El Mes de Concientización sobre la Violencia Doméstica podría estar llegando a su fin, pero un reciente panel de discusión tuvo como objetivo educar a la población sobre los cambios de políticas y disipar ideas erróneas sobre la violencia doméstica.

Serena Evans, de la Coalición de Nevada para Poner Fin a la Violencia Doméstica y Sexual, dice que, como estado, Nevada tiende a ser lo que ella llama "reactivo en lugar de proactivo", en relación con la implementación de políticas.

Añade que Nevada es uno de los pocos estados que no financia la prevención y la intervención a través de su presupuesto general, lo que hace más difícil conseguir que las víctimas supervivientes reciban la ayuda que necesitan.

"Muchos otros estados financian la violencia doméstica y sexual en su presupuesto general. Nosotros no," explica Evans. "Por eso, muchos de nuestros programas tienen dificultades para llegar a fin de mes y no tenemos suficientes fondos en el estado para cubrir las necesidades de las victimas sobrevivientes."

Durante 23 de los últimos 25 años, Nevada ha figurado entre los 10 estados con mayor índice de mujeres asesinadas por hombres, según Violence Policy Center. También se sitúa en el puesto 21 a nivel nacional en cuanto a tasas de posesión de armas de fuego en los hogares. Los expertos en violencia doméstica califican esta combinación de peligrosa. Evans dice que los responsables políticos de Nevada pueden votar para apoyar mejor las iniciativas de vivienda y educación para disminuir la tasa de violencia doméstica.

Una de las leyes que se aprobaron durante la última sesión legislativa de Nevada fue el proyecto de ley 51 de la Asamblea. Esta ley amplía de 24 horas a siete días el plazo para detener a personas en casos de violencia doméstica. Antes de la aprobación de la A-B 51, los agentes sólo disponían de 24 horas para efectuar una detención antes de tener que obtener una orden judicial. Los defensores afirman que esta medida contribuirá a reducir la vulnerabilidad de las supervivientes.

Kristen Kennedy, del Centro de Recursos contra la Violencia Doméstica de Reno, dice que no sólo proporcionan servicios de emergencia a quienes huyen de situaciones de violencia doméstica, sino que también trabajan con las víctimas supervivientes para que puedan recuperarse.

"Ayudamos a reconstruir sus vidas," asegura Kennedy. "Tenemos un programa de vivienda de transición para que puedan estar en nuestro programa y vivir en nuestras viviendas durante un máximo de dos años. Y durante ese tiempo hacemos un entrenamiento financiero intensivo con nuestros clientes y consejería de trauma."

Kennedy dice que muchos tienen la idea errónea de que es necesario encontrarse en lo que ella llama una situación de crisis para buscar ayuda. Dice que no es así en lo absoluto. Anima a quienes quieran saber más o simplemente recibir consejo para acudir a organizaciones como la suya, que están ahí para ayudar y brindar recursos.



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The Me Too movement prompted sexual abuse victims to come forward with their allegations of rape and harassment. Yet, the increase in these occurrences both nationally and statewide show repeated incidents.

Sexual violence is a nonconsensual act, either through physical or verbal behavior.

The Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking is an advocacy, training and technical assistance resource for people who have faced sexual violence.

Coalition President and CEO Beth White explained the state's most vulnerable targets are often silent.

"We are worse for high school girls who experienced sexual violence while in high school, we are worse for the general population as well," said White. "So, when someone comes forward to report that this has happened to them, we always say a number of things that are important. Number one, we start by believing that people don't generally make false allegations about this problem."

An Indiana University report shows females in 9th-12th grades in Indiana schools have the second highest rate in the nation of forced sexual intercourse.

This month, the organization will open the state's sixteenth rape crisis center, Hope's Voice will serve Davies and Knox counties in southeastern Indiana.

The centers are commonly co-located with a domestic violence shelter, or another social service organization.

Researchers say sexual assault survivors should understand the perpetrator seeks to take away power and control - and most survivors do not file a police report or tell a friend, family member, or teacher out of embarrassment or shame.

White pointed out the coalition emphasizes the importance of regaining the control that has been taken away, and she works to encourage communities to talk about the issue and seek solutions, which are often multifaceted.

"Indiana has a problem," said White, "and we want people to know there is help, there is hope and there is healing that can occur when people do come forward if they feel that they can."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show survivors are more prone to smoke, abuse alcohol and drugs and engage in risky sexual activity after their experience.

The assault can also impact a survivor's ability to work, attend school or maintain personal relationships.

As federal Victims of Crime Act funding continues to impact Kentucky's domestic violence shelters, advocates say they are applauding lawmakers decisions to include $6 million of the state budget's general fund for shelter and program operations, alongside a one-time allocation of $7.1 million to offset the impact of VOCA cuts.

ZeroV's CEO Angela Yannelli said the funding will ensure life-saving programs for people in crisis continue to serve those who rely on them - and who often have no where else to turn.

"We are extremely grateful to the General Assembly for listening to us," said Yannelli. "We've been talking about this since the interim session, about how VOCA has really impacted us."

According to the latest report from the National Network to End Domestic Violence, last year more than 1,000 adult and child survivors relied on Kentucky's emergency shelters and programs, that provide transitional housing, transportation, housing advocacy, legal support, therapy, and other supportive services.

Darlene Thomas, who is executive director of a Fayette County shelter, Greenhouse 17, said without continued funding, her organization would lose the ability to provide holistic wraparound services for survivors and their children.

"Housing, emergency financial assistance, help with getting back to employment," said Thomas, "we do all of the pieces to help people move from crisis to self sufficiency."

The state has also taken steps to protect survivors who want to exercise their right to vote.

A new program allows survivors of crimes, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking, to hide their address on public records, including from voter rolls.

More information about the Safe at Home program is on the Kentucky Secretary of State's website.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Ohio is expanding its qualified rape crisis centers serving rural areas in the central and southeastern regions of the state.

Taylr Ucker-Lauderman, chief engagement officer with the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, explained that qualified centers have to meet certain criteria, and typically provide crisis intervention, legal and medical assistance, counseling and referrals to other local resources. She said collaboration among centers to assist sexual abuse survivors and educate the public about violence prevention is critical.

"One really exciting outcome of 2023 is that we did see two additional rape crisis centers identified as qualified rape crisis centers, which means that they are supported by the Alliance," Ucker-Lauderman said.

One in four women and about one in 26 men have experienced completed or attempted rape, according to the CDC. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline. It's available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-656-4673.

Ucker-Lauderman added survivors of sexual assault often need housing and other basic resources, noting these services are especially needed in geographically isolated areas, and are often unavailable if domestic violence isn't co-occurring. Rape crisis centers may be one of the few options sexual violence survivors have.

"That means increasing the capacity of the service providers across the state, making sure that they have the training that they need, the funding, the staff," she said.

Molly MacMath, executive director of COMPASS Rape Crisis Center in Northeastern Ohio, said while centers, hospitals and police departments play a critical role in preventing sexual violence, communities should be working to come up with creative ways to approach the issue.

"There's so many other entities within our communities that really play a role in the awareness and prevention of violence," MacMath said.

According to Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence's annual report, last year rape crisis centers across the state provided 556 nights of shelter through the Alliance's Meaningful Access Housing Program.