New Milford Hosts 7th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium – Insider NJ

Report on the 7th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in New Milford

Executive Summary

This report documents the proceedings of the 7th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium held in New Milford, NJ, on October 22nd. Organized and moderated by Councilman Matthew Seymour, the event focused on the theme “Digital Empowerment: Confronting Tech Abuse Through Knowledge and Awareness.” The symposium served as a critical platform for connecting survivors with resources, fostering multi-agency collaboration, and raising public awareness. The initiative directly supports the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Event Objectives and Contribution to Global Goals

The primary objectives of the symposium were aligned with creating safer, more inclusive communities as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.

• To provide a platform for survivors to share their experiences, thereby empowering them and informing community response strategies.
• To connect survivors and their families with vital resources from law enforcement, legal services, and social support agencies.
• To educate the public on the escalating issue of technology-facilitated abuse, a modern barrier to achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
• To strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration, a core principle of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by uniting government, law enforcement, and non-governmental organizations in a coordinated response to violence.

Key Themes and Discussions

Confronting Technology-Facilitated Abuse

The central theme addressed the growing trend of digital abuse in intimate partner violence. Discussions highlighted how technology is weaponized for control and harassment, undermining personal safety and well-being. Mayor Michael Putrino emphasized the critical need for digital safety education, noting that abuse often continues online. Survivor Alexis Ruhlen stated, “We must catch up as a society by teaching digital boundaries… and holding abusers accountable not only for what they do physically but also for what they do behind a screen.” This focus is essential for adapting strategies to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, a key target of SDG 5.

Strengthening Institutions and Justice

A roundtable discussion featured representatives from various sectors, demonstrating a commitment to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The collaboration aims to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions to combat violence and provide access to justice for all. Participating entities included:

• Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office
• Bergen County Sheriff’s Office
• New Milford Police Department
• Center for Hope and Safety
• YWCA Northern NJ healingSPACE
• Women’s Rights Information Center
• Northeast NJ Legal Services
• Retired Superior Court Judge Terry Paul Bottinelli, J.S.C.

This coordinated community response, as described by Lil Corcoran of the Women’s Rights Information Center, is vital for creating a robust system of support and intervention.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The symposium’s framework and outcomes demonstrate a strong commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality: The event directly addresses Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. By focusing on intimate partner violence and its digital manifestations, the symposium works to dismantle harmful practices and support survivors.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The initiative embodies Target 16.1 (significantly reduce all forms of violence) and Target 16.2 (end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children). The multi-agency panel strengthens local institutions and promotes access to justice for survivors.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By addressing the severe physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of intimate partner violence, and by connecting individuals to mental health resources, the symposium contributes to Target 3.4 (promote mental health and well-being).
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The event is a model of a multi-stakeholder partnership, bringing together local government, county agencies, law enforcement, legal experts, and non-profit organizations to achieve a common goal.

Outcomes and Future Initiatives

The symposium successfully raised awareness, particularly regarding digital abuse, and reinforced the network of support available to residents. Councilman Seymour’s leadership has expanded this model, with similar symposia now held at Ramapo College of New Jersey and a countywide event at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, which focused on improving access to resources across all communities. The availability of the symposium’s recording on the New Milford Public School District’s YouTube channel ensures its educational reach extends beyond the event itself, furthering the mission to build safer and more resilient communities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article’s central theme is intimate partner violence and domestic violence. While it notes that this violence affects everyone regardless of gender, intimate partner violence disproportionately affects women and girls, making SDG 5 highly relevant. The goal aims to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article discusses reducing violence, providing access to justice for survivors, and building effective, accountable institutions to address domestic violence. The involvement of law enforcement (Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, New Milford Police), the judiciary (retired Superior Court Judge), and legal services (Northeast NJ Legal Services) directly connects to the promotion of peaceful societies and access to justice for all.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article implicitly addresses health by discussing the severe impact of violence on survivors. It explicitly mentions a symposium focused on the “emotional and psychological impacts of intimate partner violence,” which directly relates to promoting mental health and well-being.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The symposium itself is a prime example of a multi-stakeholder partnership. The article details a collaboration between government officials (councilmen, mayors), law enforcement, social service agencies (Center for Hope and Safety, YWCA), non-profits (Women’s Rights Information Center), and educational institutions (Ramapo College) to achieve the common goal of ending domestic violence.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
   • The article’s entire focus is on combating intimate partner violence and domestic abuse, which are primary forms of violence against women and girls. The symposium’s mission to “end abuse and intimate partner violence” aligns perfectly with this target.
2. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The article opens with statistics on the frequency of domestic violence and quotes a survivor saying, “When you think you’re going to die, time stops.” This highlights the life-threatening nature of the violence the community is working to reduce.
3. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • The symposium brings together representatives from the legal and justice systems, including the Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, a retired judge, and legal services. This collaboration aims to connect survivors with the justice system and “hold abusers accountable,” thereby promoting the rule of law and access to justice.
4. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • The mention of a “Mental Health Awareness Symposium” that “focused on the emotional and psychological impacts of intimate partner violence” directly supports the goal of promoting mental health and well-being for survivors.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • The article describes the symposium as a “coordinated community response to domestic violence” involving government, law enforcement, social service agencies, and legal experts. This multi-sector collaboration is a clear example of the partnerships described in this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Prevalence of Violence (Implied Indicator for Targets 5.2 and 16.1)
   • The article states, “Nationally, an act of domestic violence occurs every seven and a half minutes, and nearly 20 people experience abuse by an intimate partner every minute.” This data point serves as a baseline indicator for the prevalence of intimate partner violence (related to official indicator 5.2.1 and 16.1.3). Progress would be measured by a reduction in these figures.
2. Reporting of Violence (Implied Indicator for Target 16.3)
   • The article notes that “most of these incidents go unreported.” An increase in the rate of reporting incidents to authorities would be a key indicator of progress, suggesting increased trust in the justice system and greater awareness among survivors of available support (related to official indicator 16.3.1).
3. Prevalence of Technology-Facilitated Abuse (Implied Indicator for Target 5.2)
   • The symposium’s focus on “Digital Empowerment: Confronting Tech Abuse” and the statement that “Technology-facilitated abuse is a growing and deeply troubling trend” implies the need for an indicator to measure this specific form of psychological violence. Tracking the prevalence of online harassment, stalking, and control by intimate partners would be a relevant measure.
4. Number of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships and Awareness Initiatives (Implied Indicator for Target 17.17)
   • The article mentions the expansion of the initiative to “seven annual Symposia in the Borough of New Milford, four at Ramapo College of New Jersey, and two Mental Health Awareness Symposium.” The number and frequency of these collaborative events serve as a direct indicator of the strength and growth of partnerships aimed at violence prevention and education.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: insidernj.com