Prevention is everyone's responsibility.
Domestic violence is a serious public health issue that is preventable. Together, we can create conditions in Delaware, and beyond, where healthy relationships can thrive and environments are free of violence.
Every person can play a role in preventing violence.
Empathy Wheel
In our community, we choose kindness. We choose to accept one another despite our differences. We choose to take the time to listen. We choose to be respectful and open-minded.
Everyone has different boundaries and levels of comfort - and that’s okay! We can practice respecting people’s boundaries by asking questions about what they feel comfortable with.
When we take the time to listen to others, we show that we respect and honor their experiences. Sometimes, people just want to be heard! Create space for people to share without fear of judgment or criticism.
Our different experiences are what make us unique! However, it can be difficult to fully understand the struggles or challenges someone else may be going through if we haven’t experienced it ourselves.
It’s important that everyone around us feels safe to share their thoughts and feelings. When we show that we care about others as much as we care about ourselves, we create healthy and safe spaces for all.
Because we all come from unique backgrounds and experiences, it can be surprising to hear that someone else’s experiences may be vastly different than your own. We can learn about others by listening to their stories and gaining new perspectives.
Download a printable version of the Empathy Wheel.
Preventing Violence in Relationships Requires Social Change
Over the last 30 years, advocates have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about abuse and violence in relationships and its detrimental effects on individuals and our society. So far, the response to this awareness has largely focused on after-the-fact efforts like improving victim services and system response, and community education on the warning signs of abuse.
While these efforts represent critical strides, there is a growing body of evidence that we can eliminate domestic violence more effectively by addressing the root causes of abuse before it ever occurs.
