In the time it takes you to read this article – about one minute – 20 people will be physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S.
That's more than 10 million women and men a year, and one of many sobering statistics stressing the importance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
In observance of DVAM, Freeport-McMoRan is encouraging employees to wear purple every Friday in October and remember the resources listed below should you or someone you know need help or support. This information also is being sent to employee homes in October.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline – 24-hour confidential service available via phone at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or internet chat at Thehotline.org
- Employee Assistance Program – free, confidential counseling provided by Jorgensen Brooks Group at 888-520-5400 or Jorgensenbrooks.com
For the past 17 years, Freeport-McMoRan has supported the effort to raise awareness and empower those affected by domestic violence by providing grants to emergency shelters and other service providers.
Domestic violence continues to plague communities across the U.S. – including those where the company operates – with 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men the victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. One in 15 children are exposed to that violence each year, with 90 percent of them witnessing it firsthand.
Victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of 8 million days of paid work each year, the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs.
About DVAM
Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from a Day of Unity held in October 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed in 1987. Two years later, the U.S. Congress passed legislation designating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Source for statistics: The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
About Freeport-McMoRan