Domestic violence is a pervasive and under-reported problem. Surveys in the United States and Canada have indicated that domestic violence occurs in nearly a third of all marriages. Some experts believe that this estimate may be too low, since many domestic violence incidents are not reported

Other statistics have shown that the majority of violence victims, as much as 95%, are women. The pattern of domestic violence indicates that violence in the relationship is a learned behavior. In many cases, men who become abusive and women who are abused come from homes where such violence occurred. On the positive side, 25% of men who grew up in abusive homes choose not to use violence, demonstrating that the cycle can be stopped.

It is imperative that we publicly recognize the problem and take action to stop the cycle of violence. The Notre Dame Sisters are working to promote nonviolence through prayer, advocacy, raising awareness and spreading information about resources.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-876-6238