Intimate partner violence and other forms of domestic violence are about power and control.
Violence is always wrong.
Violence is against the law.
Violence is never the victim’s fault.
There are many ways to get help, and you are not alone.
Domestic Violence includes all types of violence that happen within the “domestic sphere” – more simply, “at home” – including child abuse, partner violence, and elder abuse.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is any violence or coercive behavior by someone against an intimate partner.
Are you in an unhealthy relationship?
GET HELP
- CALL 911: If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
- CALL 1-800-621-HOPE: To find out more about getting help and getting safe when you are not in immediate danger, you can call the City’s Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-621-HOPE or 1-800-621-4673). Or call 311 and ask for the Hotline. Both are available 24 hours a day. Assistance is available in multiple languages and includes help with:
- Temporary housing to get away from an abuser.
- Leaving the relationship, temporarily or permanently.
- Counseling or other social services.
- A court order of protection or an arrest warrant
- TALK TO A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: You can also talk to a health care provider about your fears. Health care providers include your regular doctor, a nurse, or any other medical professional at an emergency room, hospital, clinic or doctor’s office.
Intimate Partner Violence and Health
Intimate partner violence involves a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to establish and maintain power and control over the other. These behaviors can include physical, sexual, and psychological (emotional) abuse by a current or former partner (including common-law husbands/wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, lovers, and dating partners) in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships.
Intimate partner violence can cause serious short- and long-term health problems, including physical injuries, such as bruises or broken bones, and psychological suffering, such as anxiety or depression.
Physical intimate partner violence includes:
- the use of weapons
- hitting, slapping, kicking
- pushing, shoving
Sexual intimate partner violence includes:
- forced and/or unwanted sexual intercourse (rape) or sexual touching
- threats of forced and/or unwanted sexual contact or violence
- unwanted non-contact sexual acts, such as voyeurism, exploitation, and verbal or behavioral sexual harassment
If both partners have not given consent, sexual activity can be considered violence and unlawful. Active consent means that each person agrees to the sexual activity freely and knowingly. A person who has any or all of the following characteristics CANNOT give consent:
- a person who has been threatened or coerced
- a person whose judgment is impaired by alcohol or drugs
- a person who is unconscious or asleep
- a person who has a mental impairment that does not allow for full understanding of the sexual act
- a person who is younger than 17 years of age
Psychological intimate partner violence includes:
- threatening to hit or to use weapons
- threatening to hurt children, relatives, friends or pets
- continually criticizing, name-calling, ridiculing
- controlling access to family, friends, work, and money
Both men and women can experience IPV, but most reported cases occur among women and it is a leading cause of women’s injuries. In 2006, intimate partner violence sent nearly 4,000 women and men to the emergency departments in New York City (NYC). An estimated 93,000 women and 48,000 men in NYC report that they are afraid of their partner. It is likely that even more New Yorkers are victims of violence, since some may be too afraid or ashamed to tell anyone about what is happening to them.
Intimate Partner Violence during Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be an especially vulnerable time of life, and some data suggest women may be at increased risk for intimate partner violence during this period. Between 4% and 8% of women experience IPV during pregnancy, including women from all walks of life in every age, racial and ethnic group.
IPV during pregnancy is a serious health concern, since the effects extend beyond the victim. Some physical abusers not only aim their blows at their partner but also at a pregnant woman's belly, placing the fetus in danger. Experiencing IPV during pregnancy has been associated with pregnancy complications, pre-term labor, prematurity, low birthweight infants, neonatal intensive care admissions and even neonatal death. Among pregnant women, IPV is linked to depression, post-partum depression, eating an unhealthy diet and engaging in unhealthy behaviors, such as alcohol or drug abuse.
Partners may become abusive (or more abusive) during pregnancy because they feel:
- upset over an unplanned pregnancy
- increased stress at the thought of supporting a new baby (or an additional child)
- Jealous that a partner's attention may shift to the new baby (or a new relationship)
Some women remain in abusive relationships during and after pregnancy out of a desire to be a good mother and to protect their children. The March of Dimes Pregnancy and Newborn Education Center provides information women experiencing abuse during pregnancy. Resources for adult and teen victim/survivors of IPV also can help those experience abuse during pregnancy. Finally, for information on healthy pregnancy, the Health Department provides a variety of materials.
Adult Victims/Survivors: Resources and Help
HOTLINES & SERVICES
LEARN MORE
Teen Victims/Survivors: Resources and Help
GET & GIVE HELP AND INFORMATION
- National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (1-866-331-9474 or 1-866-331-8453 [TTY]) -
National 24-hour resource by phone or online, specifically designed for teens and young adults with real-time one-on-one support from trained Peer (Teen) Advocates.
- How to identify teen dating violence (PDF)
- What to do: (PDF) If you are being abused by someone else/If you are abusing someone else
- Help a friend: (PDF) If your friend is being abused by someone else/If your friend is abusing someone else
- Visit NYC Teen to watch video blogs, take polls and quizzes, download music and access fact sheets about teen dating violence and other issues affecting teens in New York City.
- Reach out to Day One, a New York City organizations devoted to the issue of teen dating violence.
- Resource List (PDF) for Adolescent Victims of Domestic Violence and Dating Violence
- Learn more about Teen Dating Violence, including:
- Digital Abuse and Cyberbullying: That’s Not Cool Campaign - Videos, electronic call out cards, and information and resources about abuse via texting, instant messaging and online accounts
- More information about Cyberbullying
- Learn more about Teen Health
TAKE ACTION
See It and Stop It Campaign - This site was created by teens in Massachusetts to help other teens identify teen dating violence, help victims and abusers get help, and take action to end teen relationship violence.
The New York City Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence offers several youth-focused programs including the NYC Healthy Relationship Training Academy and the Adopt-A-School/Relationship Abuse Prevention Program.
Family, Friends, Neighbors, Coworkers of Victims/Survivors: Resources and Help
Health Care Providers: Resources and Help
Resources from New York City Agencies & Organizations
Resources from the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
Other Resources
Online Resources on Intimate Partner Violence and Related Issues
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
New York State and National Facts and Figures
Special Populations
- Immigrant Women - Information for immigrant and refugee women dealing with violence against women.
- Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community
- National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence – Site includes Spanish-language educational brochures and a fact sheet on DV in Latino communities.
- New York Asian Women ’s Center provides counseling, legal assistance, advocacy, and shelter for victims of domestic violence. The multi-lingual hotline (1-888-888-7702) is available 24 hours a day with various Asian dialects.
- Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence in Asian Communities - Summary of research on domestic violence among Asian and Pacific Islanders.
- New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) offers free and confidential support to victims (212-714-1141). They also provide a Domestic Violence Report that summarizes incidents reported to AVP and a describes their services for victims.
- National Center on Elder Abuse – Comprehensive website with information on elder abuse and national hotline: 1-800-677-1116.
- Medline Plus: Elder Abuse – Health website with excellent overview on Elder Abuse as a health problem, as well as numerous resource links.
- Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence – Website with facts about animal cruelty in connection with domestic violence from The Humane Society. Click here (PDF) for a brochure on how to protect a pet from DV.
