Commentary:

Violence is a pervasive and complex public health problem that affects us all. Its various forms (including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child abuse and neglect, bullying, teenage dating and youth violence, suicidal behavior, elder abuse or neglect, etc.) have overlapping causes and interactions. Related. Learning about the factors that influence violence can help prevent it.

Violence Prevention Division American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention For almost 40 years, the (CDC) has combined data, science, and action to find out what works. Their framework uses a four-level model that shows the complex interactions between individuals, relationships, communities, and social factors. To prevent violence, we need to act on these multiple levels simultaneously.Several protective factor identified by the CDC individual includes Developing skills for non-violent problem solving, assertiveness, and conflict resolution.for relationship, family, caring adults and school connections are important.and community Support levels, living wage employment, access to mental health and substance abuse services, and coordination of resources and services are essential.and society Policies that support level, economic, gender and ethnic equity are important. For educational resources, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/index.html.

At the federal level, the Violence Against Women Act, reauthorized in March 2022, improves prevention and response to sexual violence, expands criminal jurisdiction of tribal courts, and recognizes non-Indigenous perpetrators of sexual assault. include those who However, both men and women can be at risk of violence. Another recent federal law ends mandatory arbitration for sexual assault and harassment and prevents companies from compelling workers to waive their right to a jury trial in such allegations.Forbes According to an article (4 March 2022), companies usually prefer arbitration to court. This is because arbitration is not public and costs less to do business.

In Doña Ana County, luckily, we have the resources to address the issue. dangerous (unemployment, crime, access to guns, prolonged toxic (painful) stress, antisocial beliefs, authoritarian attitudes) and protection cause.of Doña Ana County Resilience Leader We work to limit adverse childhood experiences (ACE, trauma, adversity) to ensure the safety of our children, students and families. They released his 2020 Doña Ana County study, which identified 10 basic family service needs and levels of access. The study explained the many barriers to access to 10 survival services: health care, behavioral health care, food, housing, transportation, parental support, early childhood education, community schools, youth mentoring, and vocational training. It has been. They offer educational events and have developed a strategic planning process to guide their mission. https://www.dacrl.org/reports-publications

Leagues stand to support many of the protective factors listed by the CDC. Violence prevention programs should train child care providers, teachers, administrators and coaches. and participate in the school curriculum. Individuals, businesses, institutions, institutions and governments must play a more active role in preventing violent acts. There are no easy solutions to prevent violence, but we all have the right to feel safe and secure in our families, workplaces and communities.

Kathy Brook and Eileen VanWie, Co-Presidents
League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico