THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAND SIGNAL YOU NEED TO KNOW

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and today is Wear Purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Day so we wanted to highlight a visual hand signal that has emerged during the pandemic.
One issue that domestic violence victims often have is leaving a digital imprint or having their abuser find them using a resource site. National sites like TheHotline.org, state-wide sites like EndAbuse.org and local resources like New Horizons and Brighter Tomorrows in Monroe County all have safe exit buttons. This immediately closes the website, and most send you directly to an open Google search, but that doesn’t erase the browser history, however.

Techsafety.org has some helpful information for those seeking information about domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking:

1. If you think your devices or internet search activities are being monitored, access this information from a device that isn’t being monitored. This is the safest thing to do if you don’t want someone to know that you are visiting these websites.
2. Sign out of other accounts, such as Google or Facebook, before visiting these sites.
3. Use your internet browser settings to increase your privacy, such as turning off browsing history or using the browser in-private mode. Read more about browser settings here.
4. If it is safe to do so, delete the websites URLs that you don’t want stored from the browser history.
5. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to increase the security of your internet browsing and activity. 

The Video Hand Signal to look for:

With more people working from home and quarantining in the last 6 months, there are domestic violence that are now trapped with their abusers in their own homes. One way to reach out for help without leaving a digital imprint, is to make a hand signal while on a video chat. It can be a Zoom meeting, Facetime, Google Chat, Microsoft Teams, Slack, or any video service. The victim can make a hand signal to silently show whoever they are talking to that they want someone to check in on them. The signal was created by the Canadian Women’s Foundation to help women all over the country and world. You can find more information on Signal for Help HERE.

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Isolation can increase the risk of violence at home. If this is the case for you, use this signal on a video call to show you need help. If someone gives you this signal on a video call, visit canadianwomen.org/signal-for-help (link in bio) to learn how to check in safely and find support resources in your community. #SignalForHelp #COVID19

A post shared by Canadian Women's Foundation (@canadianwomensfoundation) on Apr 14, 2020 at 5:45am PDT

If you see someone use the Signal for Help, check in with the person safely to find out what they need and want you to do. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.