Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) began in 1987, with Congress officially designating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989. DVAM provides an opportunity for everyone to learn about the prevalence and impacts of domestic violence, while coming together to show victims and survivors they are not alone. New York is a national leader in providing survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive programs and services to help prevent and combat domestic violence. This DVAM, we invite you to be an ally and help us spread the word!
This Month's Highlights
Here are the highlights of this month’s activities:
October 1: New York State Assets lit up in purple
October 6: Purple on the Plaza Domestic Violence Awareness Ceremony
OPDV is excited to host the first-ever Purple on the Plaza Domestic Violence Awareness Month Ceremony on Monday, October 6th! This very special evening will bring together victims and survivors, their families, state and local leaders, DV service providers and organizations, first responders, and anyone who wishes to show support for those impacted by DV. Empire State Plaza will be illuminated in purple, and attendees will be given a purple tea light to float in one of the Plaza’s reflecting pools.
October 14-16: The New York State Clothesline Project in the Empire State Plaza Concourse
The Clothesline Project features shirts made by survivors, family members, and supporters from all across the state. Stop by and chat with OPDV staff, visit with local providers, and check out our virtual tools to help foster healthy relationships and keep you safe from online TFGBV threats.
October 15-16: Digital Threats, Real Harm: Empowering and Protecting Youth in the Digital Era
A two-day summit focused on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Building on Governor Kathy Hochul’s landmark youth digital safety initiatives, the summit will bring together caregivers, educators, law enforcement agencies, and youth-focused community organizations to learn about TFGBV and how to best protect our youth from its dangers.
October 16: New York’s Purple Thursday
Wear purple to honor victims and survivors
October 2, 10,14, 20, and 30: Gender-Based Violence Awareness: Recognize, Respond, Refer trainings
Knowledge is power—join one of our introductory-level virtual trainings so you can help recognize the signs and play a crucial role in protecting victims and survivors. Register today!
What New York is Doing
The Governor has made it clear: keeping New York’s families safe—on our streets, in our schools, and now online—is a central priority of her administration. This DVAM, OPDV is building on Governor Hochul’s commitments to enhancing the safety of all New Yorkers through New York’s landmark digital safety initiatives. Technology-facilitated abuse has become one of the most commonly used tactics by perpetrators of gender-based violence, targeting youth in ways that threaten both their immediate safety and their long-term mental health. Statistics show 7 in 10 young people reported experiencing technology-facilitated abuse, and 5% of Middle and High School students in the United States reported being victims of sextortion.
From sextortion and image-based sexual abuse to cyberstalking and manipulation through AI companions, these harms are escalating rapidly and demand statewide leadership. Under Governor Hochul’s direction, New York has already advanced a strong foundation of nation-leading reforms including:
Youth Mental Health: Governor Hochul’s Bell to Bell distraction-free schools policy, the SAFE for Kids Act, and the New York Child Data Privacy Act protect young people from online harms while addressing the youth mental health crisis.
Prevention & Public Awareness: The Power Down Speak Up campaign, launched by OPDV in 2025, helps youth, parents, educators, and law enforcement recognize and respond to TFGBV.
Family Well-Being & Safety: Campaigns such as Get Offline, Get Outside, and Unplug and Play underscore her commitment to ensuring families can thrive offline with safe, healthy alternatives.
Post on Social Media
Follow @NYSOPDV on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn, and engage with posts by sharing, liking, and commenting using the hashtags #DVAM2025 and #PowerDownSpeakUp. You can also post the social media graphics below and show the people who follow you that you’re an ally to survivors. When posting, always include information for the NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline, which can be reached 24/7 in most languages: Call 800.942.6909, Text 844.997.2121, or chat at opdv.ny.gov.
How many young adults have experienced tech-facilitated abuse? Is sextortion a crime in New York? Put your tech-abuse knowledge to the test and take OPDV's newest online quiz, "Are You Tech-Abuse Savvy?" This quiz is designed to educate New Yorkers on spotting tactics and warning signs of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Individuals who take this quiz will receive important information on how to recognize and respond to technology-facilitated abuse.
Adopt a Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Policy
Domestic and sexual violence are pervasive in American society and can have a negative impact in the workplace.
OPDV is working to ensure that all state agencies implement best policies and practices for addressing gender-based violence in the workplace that are survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive.
To address the impact of gender-based violence in the New York State Workforce, Executive Order 17 requires the adoption of Domestic Violence and the Workplace Policies by all NYS agencies. Beginning this year,Private employers who seek to do business with New York State as a bidder for competitive contracts must also implement a Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policy. Learn about TFGBV in the workplace and the new policy requirements by watching these videos:
GBV and the Workplace for Employers
GBV and the Workplace for Employees:
Buy an "End Domestic Violence" License Plate
You can show survivors you’re an ally by having the message on your car all year long! Created in partnership with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, the new design reflects the strength and resilience of survivors, and the commitment New York State makes to support them. Revenue from the plates will support NYS efforts to end gender-based violence through programming and public awareness.
License plates can be purchased at your local DMV office, on the web, and by mail through the DMV Custom Plates Unit. You can call the unit at 518.402.4838, Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or visit online at: http://dmv.ny.gov/cplates.htm.
Be an Ally All Year Long
Many people who have experienced domestic and gender-based violence either don’t know who to turn to or have had bad experiences when they’ve reached out for help. Your willingness to help can be important to a victim’s safety planning efforts. Here are some tips to help you help someone else. Remember, being willing and well-meaning is good, but being ready to offer the kind of help that’s needed, while keeping yourself safe, is even better.
Initiate a conversation in private, and when you have enough time to talk at length, but if they want to.
Let go of any expectations you have that there is a “quick fix”. Not doing anything may very well be the safest thing they can do at any given time.
Challenge false attitudes and beliefs that you may have about domestic and gender-based violence.
Believe victims and let them know that you do. If you know the person who has or is abusing them, it may be hard to believe that they are capable of abuse but remember that abusers typically act differently in public than they do in private.
Listen to what they tell you. Avoid judgments and giving advice. They will let you know what they need.
Refer them to a service provider who can provide necessary medical attention, counseling or emotional support, safety planning, housing and discuss their options.
Build on their strengths. Point out the ways they developed to cope, solve problems, and how they’ve shown courage and determination.
Validate feelings. It is common for victims to have conflicting feelings- love and fear, guilt and anger, hope and sadness. Let them know that these feelings are normal.
Avoid victim-blaming. Tell the victim that the abuse is not their fault.
Take it seriously. If you are concerned about their safety, tell them you are concerned without judgment by simply saying, “Your situation sounds dangerous, and I’m concerned about your safety.”
Offer help. Offer specific forms of help and information, such as providing childcare, driving them to appointment, or assisting with pets.
Give them control. Abuse and assault take control away from victims. Support their decisions about who to tell, what steps to take, and what types of support they need. Additionally, asking before offering physical support such as hugs and being upfront about what support you can and cannot provide allows them to take control of their safety and next steps.
Support and respect their decisions. Remember that there are risks were every decision a victim makes and there is no one way an individual must react to abuse or assault. If you really want to be helpful, be patient and respect their decisions, even if you don’t agree with them.
Talk to an advocate today to learn more about what’s available and make sure to share this information with the survivors in your life.
As technology evolves, so do the resources available for survivors. From services that work to take down non-consensual intimate images, to educational materials that help you understand technology-facilitated abuse, keep up to date on the resources available to combat technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
