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Violence

• More information on violence

Violence affects women of all backgrounds and all ages. Violence can have terrible and costly results for everyone involved, including families, communities, and society. Violence can take many forms, including domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual assault and abuse, dating violence, and elder abuse. Learn more about the different types of violence in our violence against women section.

American Indian and Alaska Native women have the highest rates of intimate partner violence compared to all other groups. According to the National Violence Against Women survey, about 1 in 3 American Indian and Alaska Native females have been a victim of rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. The rate of assault by an intimate partner was similar.

If someone has hurt you, keep in mind, it is not your fault. You did not cause the abuse to occur and you are not responsible for the violent behavior of someone else.

If you're a victim of abuse or violence at the hands of someone you know or love, or you are recovering from an assault by a stranger, you are not alone. To get immediate help and support, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673. You can also visit the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.

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More information on Violence

Read more from womenshealth.gov

• Violence Against Women - Too many women suffer violence at the hands of someone close to them. This Web page provides abused women and their loved ones with resources and information they can use to get help. It also gives information about different types of abuse, including domestic violence, sexual abuse and assault, dating violence, and elder abuse.
  http://www.womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/

Explore other publications and websites

• American Indian Health - This website is an information portal to information about the health of native peoples of the United States. The topics include cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and environmental health.
  http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/
• Are You Being Abused? (Copyright © American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - This simple quiz helps victims and those who care about them identify the signs of abuse. It encourages victims to seek assistance and gives phone numbers to call for help.
  http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/ACOG_Departments/Violence_Against_Women/Are_you_Being_Abused
• Domestic Violence: Protecting Yourself and Your Children (Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians) - This publication provides information on how to protect yourself and your children from domestic violence, where to go to get help, and other important facts you should know about domestic violence.
  http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/safety/crisis/052.html
• Get Help (Copyright © Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women) - This page provides useful information for American Indian/Alaska Native women who are victims of violence.
  http://www.csvanw.org/gethelp.htm
• Mending the Sacred Loop Technical Assistance Brochures (Copyright © Mending the Sacred Hoop — Technical Assistance Project) - These 3 brochures help inform and educate Native American people about domestic violence, abusive relationships, and respectful relationships. These brochures are easily duplicated and customized so that any organization addressing violence against women can use them in its program.
  http://www.msh-ta.org/brochures.htm
• State Sexual Assault Coalitions - This publication offers a list of addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers of coalitions across the country that help with sexual assault.
  http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/statedomestic.htm
• Understanding Intimate Partner Violence - This fact sheet provides information on the number of women who experience intimate partner violence, common behaviors of an abuser, and the effects abuse has on individuals and society.
  http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/IPV_factsheet-a.pdf
• Understanding Sexual Violence - This fact sheet discusses the prevalence and incidence of sexual violence, risk factors, and consequences. It also provides some strategies to help prevent sexual violence.
  http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/SV_factsheet-a.pdf
• Violence Against Native Women - This Internet site page provides resources for patients, providers, community health officials, and more about violence against Native American women.
  http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/MCH/V/index.cfm

Connect with other organizations

• Administration for Native Americans, HHS
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ana/
• Futures Without Violence
  http://endabuse.org/
• National Center for Victims of Crime
  http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbID=dash_Home
• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  http://www.thehotline.org/
• Office on Violence Against Women, DOJ
  http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/
• Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
  http://www.rainn.org/
• Violence Against Women Online Resources
  http://www.vaw.umn.edu/

Content last updated May 18, 2010.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

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