October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Take Back the Night Set for October 20 at Frank Powell Park in Cruz Bay

The St. John Take Back the Night event will feature a candle light vigil and placards bearing the name of domestic violence victims.

Governor John deJongh proclaimed October as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in the Virgin Islands to confront a social ill that the Centers for Disease Control has called “an urgent and costly public health crisis.”

Crimes of domestic violence violate their victim’s trust and sense of safety. They can take many forms, including forcing, coercing or manipulating someone into unwanted sexual activity and physical, emotional or mental abuse.

“By proclaiming Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are calling attention to this unacceptable behavior and encouraging all members of our community to work together to end the suffering of victims at the hands of those who are closest to them,” deJongh said.

Domestic violence encompasses the crimes of rape, incest, child sexual assault, ritual abuse, assault, battery, sexual exploitation, sexual contact, harassment, bullying, exposure or voyeurism. Those crimes can be perpetrated by anyone from a school teacher to a coworker, from a religious leader to an athlete, from a date to a family member.

Victims are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing long-term mental health problems, including suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, promiscuity, low self-esteem, psychiatric hospitalization and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council encourages all Virgin Islanders to wear a purple ribbon during the month of October to commemorate the victims of domestic violence and raise awareness about the problem.

The Council will be putting on Take Back the Night marches and candlelight vigils across the territory on Thursday, October 20. On St. John the march will begin at 6 p.m. at Franklin Powell Park. All who attend are asked to wear purple.

DeJongh urged all Virgin Islanders to help make this month the beginning of the end of domestic and sexual violence and encourages all to attend events scheduled during the month.

“We can stop the cycle of domestic violence by working together to advocate for the rights and needs of victims, by making prevention a priority, and by holding perpetrators accountable,” deJongh said.