Although domestic violence occurs across all demographics - race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability status, religion - research in New York City has found that foreign-born women are overrepresented as victims when compared with the general population. In turn, OCDV has made multilingual community outreach a cornerstone in the effort to reduce violent crime in the home. As a result of our efforts, calls to the New York City Domestic Violence Hotline have increased by 5.6% from 2003 to 2004.

Commissioner Jimenez and Tiki Barber record new P.S.A.
Commissioner Yolanda B. Jimenez recently recorded a new domestic violence prevention public service announcement with New York Giants Running Back Tiki Barber. Tune into Lifetime Television to view the spot.
Learn about Lifetime's Commitment to Stop Violence Against Women
Watch press conference (in Real Media)

New York Breaks the Silence Together
This spring, OCDV joined the New York Women's Agenda and Altria Group, Inc. to launch New York Breaks the Silence Together, a campaign which increases awareness of domestic violence in the workplace.
View ad campaign (in PDF)

Grassroots Education Expanded
OCDV partnered with local service providers to design and distribute awareness materials in 16 different languages. The resulting public education campaign provides useful information on domestic violence and sexual assault to immigrants and others in brochures, palm-sized information cards, and posters. These materials have been distributed to schools, hospitals, houses of worship, public libraries, and government offices Citywide.

Community Meetings to Increase Local Awareness
OCDV partners with local leaders to increase awareness of domestic violence in communities recently impacted by brutal incidents. Business leaders, police officers, community members, social workers, and government officials come together to make one message clear: language-specific help is available in the local community, and victims can receive assistance regardless of immigrant status consistent with the Mayor's Executive Order 41.

Extending Message to Independent and Mainstream Media
OCDV's message is brought to mainstream, local, and ethnic press in multiple languages. In addition to regularly hosting multilingual press conferences, in 2004 and 2005 Chinese, Korean, and Spanish Public Services Announcements (PSAs) were aired on local radio and TV stations. PSAs produced in Spanish by Channel 41 and in English by Lifetime Television also aired.

Wireless Phone Donation Program
In a partnership with Verizon Wireless, the City is also increasing victim safety through the P.H.O.N.E.S. Program. Cell phones that dial 911 and the City's Domestic Violence Hotline are distributed to victims in need Citywide. These phones are funded through a phone recycling program which is managed by Verizon Wireless.

Wireless phones and equipment from all carriers can be brought to any Verizon Wireless Communications Store located in the five Boroughs. Proceeds from the program go directly back into communities through the emergency phone program or through grants that fund local domestic violence programs.