Break the Language Barrier

You might not think of a language barrier being a challenge for domestic violence victims, but there is unfortunately.

Those who don’t speak English and only their own native language, often say that there is no help for them. Unfortunately, because of this language barrier they are worried about not getting any help.

A domestic violence survivor, Rosa, is speaking out and letting everyone know and making them aware that there is help for all native language speaking victims. She immigrated to the United States for a relationship that developed on a dating site and it quickly became very dangerous for her. Unfortunately, being an immigrant, she did not know her rights. She explains that there was a lot of control within the relationship and threats from her abuser. The abuser told her that if she tried to leave him, there would be dangerous consequences for her and her young son. He was well aware that he could control her with these threats because she and her son did not speak any English. Both of them unfortunately sustained a lot of verbal, emotional and economic abuse from the abuser. Since the victims were not from the United States, they were scared and thought that no help was available to them.

But, Rosa, finally thought one day she would take a chance to see if some how reaching out to someone there would be some way of communicating. She came across the battered women’s and children’s shelter a few months back. There she was able to get a bilingual case manager to help her get to a safe place and plan her future. Now Rosa feels safe and is getting her confidence built up knowing she has help from the shelter organization and someone she can communicate with. The victim's case manager handles everything with her domestic case coming up soon in court with the perpetrator. Thankfully, this has made such a huge difference in her life that she can see light now and feels safe. Allowing a survivor to speak in their own native language makes them more comfortable talking about the most painful moments of their life.

Family Violence Prevention Services, of which owns the shelter where the victim went, helps almost all languages. They are able to help in this way because the shelter has been contracted with a company called Master Word. Master Word is able to translate many different native languages to help victims. When a victim that does speak a native language arrives at the shelter they call the translator to help.

At last with the help of the shelter the victim and her son is free from the abuse, safe and taking classes to learn English. She hopes that other victims will see that there is never a barrier to safety.

Rosa has been so gracious and brave to share her story with the hope that other's with a native language barrier will seek safety. She told me it’s never worth being in an abusive situation of any kind. Get out while you can!

If you or someone you know is in an abusive domestic relationship please do not let a native language barrier prevent help. There is hope to get to a safe and secure place for you and your children.

This help is for anyone that finds themselves in a unsafe situation. Abuse of any kind is never okay and should be reported when you have gotten to a safe location.

For help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline. They are available 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish, and 200+ through interpretation service. Call toll free at 800-799-7233.