Life was a nightmare for me. For 11 long years, my ex-husband subjected me and our children to repeated physical and emotional terror. He stole my smile, pulling out my upper left canine tooth in one of his vicious assaults. Our young, innocent children were not spared, left bruised and mentally scarred from his brutality. Every penny from our joint account was stolen by him, leaving us destitute. He even took my children away from me, crossing state lines and ignoring my desperate pleas for their return. We reached out to law enforcement, social services, and child welfare - to anyone who could possibly help. But we were met with cold indifference and disbelief at every turn. Our cries for assistance fell on deaf ears, painting a grim picture of the prevailing justice system in relation to domestic violence.

The moment has come to take a stand against this culture of disbelief and inertia. It is imperative that the United States adopts a robust, survivor-centered approach in dealing with all forms of domestic violence. We urge that laws be enacted which mandate every reported case of domestic abuse to be thoroughly investigated. Officials from law enforcement, social services, child protection services, and the judiciary must presume reports of domestic violence to be credible, until thorough investigation indicates otherwise.

Survivors deserve to be treated with respect and accreditation. Mandatory Batterer’s Intervention programs must be effectively implemented, to ensure effective rehabilitation and preventive measures. Perpetrators must also be held fully accountable for their actions. Jail sentences should be longer, child custody should be revoked, visitation should be supervised, and financial restitution must be made by the perpetrators towards the victims. Wages should be garnished for domestic violence restitution in the same way that they are garnished for child support. 

Here's the devastating reality: Nearly 5 million women in the U.S have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner, according to the CDC. No one deserves to live under the shadow of violence. We owe it to those 5 million women, to all survivors, and to ourselves, to reform our approach in combating domestic violence.

It’s time domestic violence survivors were heard, believed, and protected. Join us in calling for comprehensive laws to end domestic violence in America. Sign this petition today.