WILLMAR -- It's not a victimless war. In fact, its victims can be seen almost daily in newspapers and on TV. Victims of domestic abuse are on the rise in Willmar, and today teens and adults from the Willmar area will walk for peace in an effort to fight abuse and sexual violence.
The Willmar Shelter House along with its teen outreach group Teens Respecting Other Teens Together have collaborated to host the Walk for Peace. Scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., participants will walk around Foot Lake at Robbins Island as part of a fundraising effort by the teen group. The walk will be followed by a lunch for participants.
The walk is being conducted as part of a national campaign called Choose Respect, which focuses on helping adolescents form healthy relationships and prevent dating abuse before it starts. The campaign targets kids between the ages of 11 and 14 because they are still forming beliefs, according to the Choose Respect Web site.
According to a news release from the Willmar Shelter House, nearly 2 percent of women nationally between the ages of 16 and 24 experience intimate partner violence.
Willmar Shelter House numbers for 2005 show nearly 38 percent of women served by the shelter were between the ages of 18 and 29. Percentages for sexual assault victims in the area were similar -- nearly 63 percent of those victims were between the ages of 13 and 29.
ADVERTISEMENT
What makes the numbers worse is that they appear to be on the rise annually, said Willmar Shelter House Director Connie Schmoll. Schmoll said numbers could be on the rise because more abuse is happening or because more women are seeking help than in previous years.
"I think it's both," she said.
The rising statistics among adolescents has been one of the factors in coordinating proactive events to prevent domestic and sexual abuse before it happens.
The Shelter has always provided education on domestic violence and assault to schools, civic groups and law enforcement. The Shelter also participates in lobbying legislators at the state Capitol during Action Day at the Capitol. Members of Teens Respecting Other Teens Together are hoping to become a part of that day this year.
Judy Revier, who works for the Renville County shelter, said it is hoped that some of the money raised by the teen group during today's walk can be used to send some of the kids to the Capitol to lobby legislators during Action Day at the Capitol.
Revier, who works with the teen committee, said she was excited just to see the group of kids get together. She said kids getting together and saying "(violence and abuse) needs to stop," is key to getting teenagers to listen.
"We as adults can talk until we're blue in the face," Revier said about teaching kids about domestic and sexual violence. When the teenagers themselves start talking about it, she continued, "that's when change can happen."
Revier said they are expecting about 30 teens at today's Robbins Island walk, with some adults participating as well. Revier said another group of teens from Renville is also planning on participating at the event.
ADVERTISEMENT
Although the event is new for Teens Respecting Other Teens Together and the Shelter, Revier said the teen group is planning on doing more events in the future.
The Willmar Shelter House provides emergency shelter and safety planning for victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Schmoll asks anyone who is a victim or concerned about abuse to call the shelter at 866-223-1111.
