by Sharon A. Walsh

Created on: June 22, 2009

Domestic Violence has become a serious epidemic across the globe. Domestic violence has taken away the lives of many women and will continue to do so, until it is prevented. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 85 percent of domestic violence victims are women. Do you know that 4.1 billion is spent annually on medical and mental health services for the victims of domestic violence and that 30 to 60 percent of abusers also abuse children in the home?

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, most cases are not even reported. Is it possible to prevent domestic violence? I do not know if it is possible to prevent domestic violence but with awareness of the early signs and new laws in place, we may be able to lessen the risk of domestic violence. Below are some suggestions that may help aid us in our fight to end domestic violence.

1. Remove abusers from the home

We cannot prevent domestic violence if victims are bearing the consequences for abusers. Why do women have to leave their homes along with their children for protection? Why are women and children in shelters? Why are the shelters full and turning away more women and children? Where do they go for protection if the shelters are full? Just where are the abusers while all of this is taking place? In the comfort of their homes, escaping accountability for their actions, while their wives and children are out looking for a safe place to hide. Why not place the abusers in shelters? Shouldn't the abusers be removed from the home since they are causing the problem? If we place the abusers in shelters, instead of the victims, maybe the abusers would think twice before they abuse their victims.

2. Give victims more protection

According to the NCADV, since most cases of Domestic Abuse are not even reported, there is no guarantee of protection because there is no guarantee that the abuser will be held accountable. We cannot prevent domestic violence if there is no protection for the victims when they report it. If the victims were guaranteed protection from the abuser, then maybe the victims would not be afraid to report domestic violence.

Ways to alleviate the fear of victims reporting the abuse, is to have the state take over the case, once it is reported, so that the victim does not drop the charges due to fear of retaliation from the abuser.

3. Hold abusers accountable

To prevent domestic violence, abusers need to be held accountable. Domestic

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