OFFICE
OF COUNCILMEMBER
|
 |
NEW
YORK, NY 10007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Miguelina Zorrilla
September 25, 2005 (646) 210-4233/(917) 521-2616
Domestic Violence Victims and Advocates Join Council Member Miguel Martinez in Calling for More Strict and Effective Policies for Victims of Domestic Abuse
Council Member Miguel Martinez and Domestic Violence Advocates, Safe Horizon and Alianza Dominicana highlight the unfortunate incident that took place at 20 Sickles Street where a young man took the life of 21 year-old Cheyenne Montas. Domestic violence is the leading cause of serious injury to women. Most domestic violence victims are women who are abused by their male partners, according to the Domestic Violence Fact Sheet of April 2005.
• In 2004 there were 67 family related homicides
• 66% of these cases had no prior police contact
• 84% had no current Order of Protection
“While Homicide rates are declining in New York City, we must address the domestic violence incidents in our communities to avoid horrifying incidents such as Cheyenne’s.”, said Council Member Miguel Martinez.
The City Council Domestic Violence Working Group and advocates highlight the need to address community concerns regarding persistent patterns of domestic violence in the city’s most vulnerable communities to domestic violence and the need to provide neighborhood-based services to face specific barriers-to-services, such as communities with high foreign-born populations. Forming a Domestic Violence Working Group, Councilmembers Martinez, De Blasio, Boyland, Quinn, Rivera, Monserrate, Comrie, Clarke, Jackson, Reyna, Stewart, Gonzalez, Lopez, Vann, Barron, Katz, Sears and other colleagues call for enhancement of community-based services to address service gaps in high incidence and at-risk communities.
Many domestic violence victims tend to not use resources and services that are not in their immediate vicinity, specifically services that are not provided in the victims’ perspective native language. In light of this, Councilmembers Miguel Martinez, domestic violence advocates and the entire City Council body announces their support for a $4 million City Council initiative to enhance community-based provision of domestic violence services.
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