A survivor enters a domestic violence shelter. A trained staff member listens and realizes there are similar, sometimes hidden, signs of sexual assault and possibly trafficking.
Leaders of state coalitions that support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking say different kinds of abuse can be intertwined, and those providing support and advocacy to victims need to take a multifaceted approach to helping them.
“In the work, the most important thing we always know is we cannot work in isolation,” said Vera Johnson, program specialist-system change for the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Johnson helped organize and emcee a conference last week that drew over 80 people from across the state. The coalition hosted the event, “Crossroads of Care: The Intersectionality of Survivor Support,” attended by staff from shelters, church-based support programs, college campuses, the legal system and law enforcement.
Domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking are rooted in power and control, and that can be seen through intimidation and threats, isolation, physical abuse, emotional abuse and economic abuse, according to those leading the panels.
Amber Eide, a human trafficking survivor, shared her story and talked about how she found providers who offered her grace and helped her feel safe.
“We stay because the barriers feel overwhelming,” said Eide, who talked about how it took several attempts before she could leave the abuse.
Lori Hill, human trafficking coordinator for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, said many trafficking victims were also victims of child abuse, including sexual abuse. She shared information about the state’s human trafficking laws for adults and children and ways to spot signs of trafficking.
Speakers also emphasized the dangers of domestic violence, noting it can escalate and turn deadly. Allison Bowie, director of the Crime Victim Compensation Program, said there has been an uptick in domestic violence homicides.
Last year, at least 70 people died in domestic violence incidents, according to records maintained by Missisisppi Today by reviewing local news stories, police and court records and other public information. So far this year, at least 30 people have died. These numbers include victims, abusers, children, law enforcement and others.
Between 2020 and 2024, over 300 people died in domestic violence incidents.
To encourage better collaboration, identify earlier chances to intervene and collect better data, the domestic violence coalition supported a bill to create a statewide domestic violence fatality review team, whose work began this year.
Attendees were asked to reflect on what they learned and implement it in their own work.
Johnson said people made suggestions of topics they would like to see covered at future conferences, including providing services to people experiencing addiction, low-cost legal representation and transportation in rural areas to access services.
This was the domestic violence coalition’s first statewide conference and there are plans to host more in the future, including combined conferences with the Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Mississippi Coalition Against Human Trafficking.
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