Domestic violence is an abomination that should be of extreme importance in its eradication from a society in which men and women live in fear of their partners.

Every three seconds someone is victimized as a part of domestic violence. That means that in the time it took to type the previous sentence, 30 men and women were brutalized.

In addition, the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence reports that 1 in 7 men and 1 in 4 women have experienced physical violence by the hands of their partner. What’s worse, on average three women per day are murdered by their partners.

With the recent events in the National Football League involving Ray Rice and Ray McDonald, the issue of domestic violence has once again been brought to the forefront of the media and to the attention of the American people.

Hopefully, now that society’s focus had been narrowed, progress can be made to help protect not only the direct victims of domestic violence, but also the indirect victims.

Children of violent parental relationships are twice as likely to abuse their children if they were witness to violence in their household. No child should have to suffer in response to the actions of their parents.

Men and women are not alone in combating domestic violence. There are numerous programs and organizations whose sole purpose is the defense and protection of victims and their families.

Thehotline.org is the National Domestic Violence Hotline that can be reached at 1 (800) 799-7233. They can be reached 24/7 and offer immediate help to victims, their families and even the abusers. It is crucial for the effected to realize that there are people out there that can help you get out of bad situations.

Do not become a statistic. Learn the warning signs and be proactive. You are not alone.