I am a survivor of domestic violence. Over a span of 11 days trapped on our family farm, I fell victim to kidnapping, torture, and rape at the hands of my own husband. Today, I am bravely raising three sons, while he serves his time in prison, his punishment barely a consolation for the pain I have endured.

But my ordeal doesn't end there. Two years later, I'm still waiting for my divorce proceedings to start. I am subjected daily to the memories of violence at the place that I'm forced to reside in - the same home where I bore the brunt of an inhuman brutality.

I am but one voice, one story. But in the U.S., approximately 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner, equating to more than 10 million women and men each year (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). This statistic does not even consider the emotional and psychological pain these victims endure.

It is for all these people, and more so for the ones in the state of Iowa where I reside, that this petition seeks to change the current divorce proceedings for survivors of domestic violence. It is an appeal for the law to recognize our circumstances, to expedite the dissolution of our marriages, and diligence in ensuring that we won't be forced to live in homes tarnished by horrifying memories.

Survivors of domestic violence should be entitled to immediate relief and protection, which includes a fair and compassionate divorce process. Together, let's ensure that the legal system stands up for survivors, rather than further victimizing us.

Please, sign this petition and push for a necessary reform in divorce proceedings for domestic violence survivors.