​Domestic Violence is where the abuser has used wilful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive forms of violent and abusive behavior to overpower and control the victim.  Please click here for an illustration of the power and control wheel.

Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking: is a form of modern day slavery that exists in the United States and globally.  Human Trafficking is most commonly known as sexual exploitation or labor exploitation.  ​

​Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault: is where the abuser uses physical force or intimidation to obligate the victim into sexual intercourse or to perform sexual acts against her will or without her consent.  Incest is where the abuser (i.e. father, mother, brother, sister) is related to the victim (i.e. parent, sibling, child).  ​

Sexual exploitation

Sexual exploitation: In many parts, of the world it is known as human trafficking, but it is also known as “la trata.”  It is the kidnapping or recruitment, transporting, transfer, and selling of human beings through the use of threats, lies or coercion and violence for the purpose of sexual exploitation

Stalking 

Stalking is very hard to define.  It is constant acts of unwanted or obsessive attention by an individual towards another person.  This behavior in most cases is used to intimidate and harass the recipient.  The behavior can entail following the person, constantly calling the person, using third parties to contact the person, constantly texting the person, etc.

Labor exploitation

Labor exploitation: Labor trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that exists throughout the United States and globally.  Labor traffickers–recruiters, contractors, employers or others– use physical force, intimidation, control, coercion, lies, or debt bondage to force people work under deplorable conditions with little to no pay or against their will.  ​

Global Perspective on Gender Violence

On a global scale, violence against women has been a recurring and concerning issue.  In many cities across the globe, such as Ciudad Juarez the term femicide has been used to define a high rise in the murder of women.  In many parts of the world, despite globalization and a recognition of women’s rights, women are still seen as second class citizens and property.  In addition, another source of violence for women is domestic violence and female genital mutilation.