1 in in 3 women will be physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, and each year, an estimated 10-17 million children witness some form of domestic violence in their home.

The stats are alarming, and now is the time to finally speak out about this epidemic. That is why Macy's, Inc. and the Family Violence Prevention Fund have teamed up to launch the RESPECT! Campaign℠--a major social action campaign to create a conversation about the alarming rate of abuse and assault in this country. We believe EVERYONE deserves respect, and we need your voice, your ideas, and your passion to help us create a wave of respect across this nation.

On September 19, 2008, we will celebrate the first annual National RESPECT! Day℠ when we will ask the nation to text the keyword "respect" to 41010 which will in turn donate $5 to the important work of the Family Violence Prevention Fund.

For the more than 10 million children in this country that will witness abuse in their home this year, we want to create 10 million acts of RESPECT and begin a movement that will re-shape the future for our sons and daughters.

Join us
Tell your friends
Give RESPECT!

Together, we can build a society with a foundation of RESPECT! where abuse and assault are unacceptable.

August 31, 2008
Violence Prevention Featured at Democratic Convention

Issues relating to domestic and sexual violence took center stage at the Democratic National Convention last week, highlighted by the selection of United States Senator Joseph Biden (DE) as his party's vice presidential candidate. A longtime champion of measures to prevent violence against women, Senator Biden is an author of the bi-partisan Violence Against Women Act and a co-sponsor of the bi-partisan International Violence Against Women Act.
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August 28, 2008
Macy's Shop For A Cause

On September 20, 2008, Macy's will host the annual Shop For A Cause shopping day throughout Macy's stores nationwide. To learn how you can receive exclusive shopping discounts and support Family Violence Prevention Fund click hereclick here.
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August 27, 2008
Sexual Assault in the Military Underreported

Women serving in the military today "are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than to be killed by enemy fire in Iraq," Representative Jane Harman (D-CA) charged at a contentious House hearing in late July at which the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that rape and sexual assault in the military may be under-reported by as much as half. In August, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) called for an investigation into the way the Pentagon is handling sexual assaults of servicemembers.
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July 29, 2008
Violence Common Among Youth

Three studies released in July find high rates of dating, sexual and other forms of violence among youth in the United States. The researchers who conducted the studies all recommend more education, detection and interventions that begin early in life.
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June 26, 2008
High Court Rules in Cases Affecting Victims of Violence

On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court decided two cases affecting victims of domestic and sexual violence. In Giles v. California, the Court ordered a new trial for Dwayne Giles, who had been convicted of the brutal murder of Brenda Avie after a lower court allowed a police officer to testify about the domestic violence charges Avie had filed against Giles a few weeks before she was killed. In Patrick Kennedy v. State of Louisiana, the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot use the death penalty to punish child rapists.
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June 24, 2008
UN Debates Women, Peace and Security

Following an emotional debate, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday June 19 adopted a resolution that declares rape and sexual violence to be weapons of war, and demands an end to sexual violence against civilians in armed conflicts around the world.
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June 18, 2008
Senators Biden and Lugar Urge Passage

Of I-VAWA
In a powerful guest editorial in today's edition of The Hill, United States Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) urge their colleagues to support the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA).
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If you are in immediate danger, dial 911.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-4673

National Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline
1-800-422-4453

To learn more about domestic and family violence, visit the Family Violence Prevention Fund at endabuse.orgendabuse.org.

To spread the word at your place of work, or to your city or state government, here are some simple tools (you need Adobe ReaderAdobe Reader to view the PDFs):
150 Ways to Give Respect Poster (PDF)150 Ways to Give Respect Poster (PDF)
Sign the Respect Declaration Poster (PDF)Sign the Respect Declaration Poster (PDF)
City/State of Respect Proclamation (Microsoft Word DOC)

To learn more about how your workplace can address domestic violence visit:
www.blueshieldfoundation.org/domesticviolence/home.htmlwww.blueshieldfoundation.org/domesticviolence/home.html

If you think someone you work with is dealing with abuse, please take a look at these resources from the Family Violence Prevention Fund's partner on workplace education and training, Blue Shield of California Foundation (you need Adobe ReaderAdobe Reader to view the PDFs):
Guidelines For Coworkers (PDF)Guidelines For Coworkers (PDF)
Guidelines For Supervisors (PDF)Guidelines For Supervisors (PDF)

Through its Blue Shield Against Violence Program, Blue Shield of California Foundation seeks to end domestic violence in our lifetime. One of California's largest funders on this issue, the Foundation provides grants to more than 100 domestic violence shelters statewide. To get to the root of the problem, the Foundation seeks out innovative strategies to create safe environments free from domestic violence. Through its Employer Outreach program, the Foundation provides training for employers and managers to help them respond effectively when they see signs of abuse. The program also helps institutions (companies, schools, hospitals) put in place workplace policies and procedures that prevent domestic violence.

Macy's has a strong history of support for family violence prevention and awareness programs in many of the cities in which it operates. As part of their continued dedication in the fight against dating and domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, Macy's is the founding national partner of the RESPECT! campaign℠. In support of the RESPECT! campaign, Macy's is the exclusive retailer of the RESPECT! Bracelet. The bracelet will be sold in Macy's stores nationwide and on macys.com beginning in September 2008. Half of the proceeds from the sale of each bracelet will benefit the RESPECT! campaign. Macy's will also donate a portion of all in-store proceeds from Macy's Shop for a Cause on September 20, 2008, to the Family Violence Prevention Fund.

As a not-for-profit company, they've made the awareness and prevention of domestic violence a priority for more than a decade. Through its Blue Shield of California Foundation, they've supported many community programs and shelters throughout the state.

Blue Shield is a lead supporter of the Family Violence Prevention Fund's International Center to End Violence. That's why they're joining RESPECT for solutions to ending domestic violence now.

One in three women will experience some form of abuse in her lifetime, and so it is critical to the RESPECT! Campaign℠ to ensure that women of all ages understand the issue and have an opportunity to participate in positive solutions. As one of the fastest-growing online networks for women, we were thrilled when Sugar, Inc., publisher of 18 women-focused sites, including PopSugarPopSugar, FabSugarFabSugar, DearSugarDearSugar and GeekSugarGeekSugar, agreed to join forces with us to help educate and empower their members to take a stand against dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. Together, we believe we can build a safer, healthier future for future generations.

Text RESPECT! is made possible in part by the generous support of the Mobile Giving FoundationMobile Giving Foundation and Mobile Accord FoundationMobile Accord, Inc.

Thanks to David Lindsey WadeDavid Lindsey Wade for capturing the beautiful images you see on the homepage. Their artistic vision truly communicates the big idea behind the RESPECT! Campaign-a world full of respect can be a world with a lot less violence.

We are proud to partner with Alpha Chi OmegaAlpha Chi Omega, a national women's organization comprised of real women, facing real issues, in the real world. It is the national philanthropy of Alpha Chi Omega to provide support for the victims of domestic violence. The organization is dedicated to educating its members about domestic violence and to helping victims by providing prevention education and material, volunteer and financial assistance to various community programs and agencies. With over 130 collegiate chapters and more than 130,000 alumnae nationwide, Alpha Chi Omega is an ideal partner as they join us in rallying for respect this fall.

The RESPECT! Campaign℠ is our latest initiative. When you Give Respect℠ you become an agent of change that can help stop a worldwide epidemic of violence that is devastating families and ravaging communities. A world full of respect can be a world with much less violence.

Why do we need to act now? Because domestic and sexual violence happen every day. In every corner of the globe. In every walk of life. But it doesn't have to be that way. Everyone has the right to live a life free from violence. Encourage your friends, your family, and your co-workers to join the rally for respect today! Together, we can make a big difference. Money raised on this site, and through other facets of the RESPECT!℠ Campaign will support innovative violence prevention education, awareness, and leadership training programs pioneered by the dedicated men and women of the Family Violence Prevention Fund.

On Friday, September 19, more than 600 Macy's stores, 130 college campuses, and communities nationwide will band together to celebrate National RESPECT! Day℠. But it all starts here - with you. With even with the smallest donation, you become an agent of change. So make the first move. Every $5 makes a difference. Give RespectGive Respect℠

We believe it is possible to end violence against women, children and families. And we believe that everyone has the right to live free from violence. It is this vision that has guided our work for nearly thirty years and it is with great conviction that we will continue working until this vision is realized.

A staunch advocate for women, children and families on Capitol Hill, the Family Violence Prevention Fund has helped generate millions of dollars for local domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault programs across the country by playing a lead role in the development and passage of landmark legislation, including the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (reauthorized in 2005) and most recently, the International Violence Against Women Act. We continue to break ground reaching new audiences including men and youth through programs such as Coaching Boys into Men, Founding Fathers, and See It And Stop It.

Family Violence Prevention Fund's model programs promote leadership and education among judges, health care providers, employers, coaches, and teachers throughout the United States and our efforts to build leadership within immigrant, minority, and refugee communities transforms the lives of countless women, children, and families every day. We strive for each and every one of our programs to be self-sustaining, effectively replicated, and efficiently scaled. And we want to make it clear to all those who suffer, often in silence, that we hear you, and we won't quit until others do too.