Gender-Based Violence Hotlines That You Can Call Right Now
Gender-Based Violence Hotlines That You Can Call Right Now
This post, and the pages it links to, contain information about violence, such as sexual assault. It may be triggering to some readers.
An American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). This is just one of many forms of gender-based violence (GBV). GBV is “any form of violence against an individual based on biological sex, gender identity or expression, or perceived adherence to socially defined expectations of what it means to be a man or woman, boy or girl” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]).
Different Forms of Gender-Based Violence
GBV comes in many forms. Here are a few examples:
Intimate partner violence (IPV). The CDC defines IPV as “abuse or aggression that occurs in a romantic relationship”. This may include physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological aggression. According to the White House National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action, IPV is sometimes referred to as dating violence or domestic violence. IPV takes place in unhealthy relationships. It can also lead to unhealthy relationships in adulthood. We can help prevent teen dating violence by learning healthy relationship skills like boundary setting, open communication, trust, consent, and creating support systems of peers and trusted adults.
Forced marriage. This is when marriage takes place without the consent of one or both parties. This may happen when others—such as family members—use physical or emotional abuse, threats, or lies to force someone to get married. It can include child marriage and arranged marriage. Forced marriage is considered a form of IPV.
Homicide. Women and girls around the world are killed by their intimate partners and family members at an alarming rate. In fact, a woman or girl is killed by someone in her own family every 11 minutes worldwide.
Human Trafficking. The U.S. Department of Justice defines human trafficking as “a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological. Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used.” This is a worldwide problem with a complex set of causes and effects.
Online Harassment and Abuse. Online harassment and abuse can happen in different ways. Some examples include sharing private pictures without permission; cyberstalking; sextortion; doxing; malicious deep fakes; gendered disinformation; rape and death threats; the online recruitment and exploitation of victims of sex trafficking; and various forms of technology-facilitated intimate partner abuse.
How to Use This Resource
You can take action right now by using the resources provided in the table below. Whether you or someone you know is facing GBV, the organizations listed here offer immediate support—free of charge. The table includes a phone number, website, and brief description for each organization listed. The resources here cover a range of GBV issues. Some resources—like Love Is Respect and the National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline—provide resources specifically focused on teens; however, all resources are available for teens and young adults.
One way to take action is to share the spreadsheet or the hotlines listed with others in your network. Spread the word on your social media feed, in your story, or through reels. You never know who may need help. In fact, sharing this resource may connect someone with the help they need and may even save their life.
You can also take the time to learn more about GBV and healthy relationships. Here are a few resources to get started:
- Use the CDC’s Intimate Partner Violence page to learn more about teen dating violence and stalking. This page includes resources to help prevent IPV.
- Use the Healthy Relationship Checklist to find resources to support healthy relationship skills. This is a social media campaign from We Think Twice and was co-designed by teens.
- Use the Love is Respect website to find information and resources on dating violence, healthy dating attitudes, and healthy relationships for youth. This web resource is a collaboration between Break the Cycle and the National Dating Abuse Helpline. The site includes an overview of teen dating violence, quizzes to help teens determine whether they are experiencing or inflicting abuse, a live chat feature that connects youth with a peer advocate 24/7, and more.
- If your private images have been taken and shared online without your permission, visit Take it Down to help get them removed.
- Don’t keep online harassment or abuse a secret. Reach out to at least one person you trust, such as a close friend, family member, counselor, or teacher, who can give you the help and support you deserve. Visit stopbullying.gov for helpful tips on how to report cyberbullying.
Let’s work together to educate ourselves and share these resources as we work towards an end to GBV.
| Name of Resource | Hotline Number | Description of Resource | Areas of Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) | 988 | This is a national network of local crisis centers in the United States. These centers provide emotional support to people in a suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Although 988 does not offer GBV-specific support, victims of GBV experiencing suicidal ideation or emotional distress can access free and confidential services. The lifeline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Its goal is to improve crisis services and advance suicide prevention by empowering people, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness. | All forms of GBV |
| Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF) | 1-800-339-3940 | CPAF offers a helpline for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All services are confidential. Trained advocates staff the hotline. They have received comprehensive training in helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These advocates speak English and many Asian and Pacific Islander languages and dialects. They provide immediate crisis intervention and safety planning. They also offer emotional support to survivors. The helpline also provides referrals to resources in the community. | IPV |
| Child Abuse Hotline- Native American | 1-505-346-2867 | Indian Affairs (IA) offers social services to improve the quality of life of Indians and their families who live on or near Indian reservations. The IA protects children, the elderly, and the disabled from abuse and neglect. These services include help with solving problems related to family functioning and personal relationships; referrals to resources for problems related to illness, physical or mental handicaps, drug abuse, alcoholism, and violations of the law; and protective services. | IPV |
| Childhelp, the National Child Abuse Hotline | 1-800-422-4453 | Childhelp exists to meet the needs of abused, neglected, and at-risk children. The hotline serves the United States and Canada. Live crisis counselors staff the hotline. They answer calls, texts, and chats 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are confidential. Email inquiries have a 24- to 48-hour response time Monday–Friday. Emails are not confidential. | IPV |
| Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) Crisis Helpline | 1-844-878-2274 | This hotline offers free, confidential support to victims of nonconsensual pornography (NCP). Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. U.S.-based victims of image-based sexual abuse can visit the CCRI Safety Center. They can also call the CCRI Image Abuse Helpline. | IPV |
| Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) Survivor Support Line | 1-877-751-0880 | The hotline is for survivors of FGM/C in the United States. It is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time Monday–Friday. Trained advocates staff the hotline. They will listen and offer care and support. They can also help with safety planning. People with information about victims or suspected perpetrators of FGM or other human rights abuses can call the FBI tip line. | IPV |
| LGBT National Help Center Hotline | 1-888-843-4564 | The LGBT National Hotline offers a safe space where callers of any age can talk about their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression issues. They can talk about coming out, relationship concerns including intimate partner violence, or bullying. Other topics include workplace issues, anxiety about HIV/AIDS, information about safer sex, and suicide. Services are free and confidential. | IPV |
| LGBT National Youth Talkline | 1-800-246-7743 | This hotline is for youth 25 years of age and younger. It provides peer support, information, and resources. It is a safe space where youth can talk about their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression issues. This includes coming out issues, relationship concerns including intimate partner violence, bullying, and school issues. Other topics may include anxiety about HIV/AIDS, information about safer sex, and suicide. The hotline is available 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time Monday–Friday. It is also open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific Time. All calls are confidential. | IPV |
| Love is Respect | 1-866-331-9474 | This resource helps young people ages 13–26 learn about healthy relationships and dating violence. Trained advocates provide education, support, and resources to young people who have questions or concerns about dating and relationships. Users can get help for free by phone, text, and live chat. Friends and family, teachers, counselors, and other service providers can also learn how to address abuse among the young people they serve. | IPV |
| National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) | 1-800-843-5678 | NCMEC assists victims, families, law enforcement, private industry, and the public. It helps to prevent child abductions, recover missing children, and provide services to deter and fight child sexual exploitation. NCMEC has a 24-hour call center. Users can call the center to report a missing or exploited child. | Trafficking |
| National Centers for Victims of Crime (NCVC) | 1-800-FYI-CALL | The NCVC is a nonprofit organization. It receives support from its members, donors, corporations, foundations, and grants from the government. The NCVC can help young people who are victims of crime find local victim services counselors. The NCVC is the nation's leading resource and advocacy organization for victims of crime and those who serve them. Since its founding in 1985, the NCVC has worked with grassroots organizations and criminal justice agencies throughout the United States that serve millions of victims of crime. | All forms of GBV |
| National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (AVP) | 1-212-714-1141 | AVP's mission is to help people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) and those from HIV-affected communities to end all forms of violence. AVP is the largest anti-LGBTQ violence organization in the nation. AVP runs a 24-hour hotline. Callers can get help in English or Spanish. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline serves LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of violence. The hotline also serves those who love and support survivors and those who have lost a loved one to violence. The hotline is available 365 days a year. Trained volunteers and counselors staff the hotline. People can also report violence anonymously. They can ask for a counselor to reach out to them online. | IPV |
| National Deaf Hotline | 1-855-812-1001 | The National Deaf Hotline is for Deaf callers across the nation. It is a partner of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline strives to make sure that survivors, friends, and family members can reach out anytime. It provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hotline supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault within the Deaf, Deaf Blind, Deaf Disabled, and Hard-of-Hearing community. | IPV |
| National Domestic Violence Hotline | 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) | This hotline was established in 1996. It is part of the Violence Against Women Act passed by Congress. The hotline services victims of domestic violence. It provides crisis intervention, information, and referrals. It also serves perpetrators, friends, and families. The hotline is a resource for domestic violence advocates, government officials, law enforcement agencies, and the public. It is the only domestic violence hotline in the nation with access to more than 5,000 shelters and domestic violence programs across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Advocates receive about 21,000 calls each month. The hotline is free, confidential, and anonymous. | IPV |
| National Human Trafficking Hotline | 1-888-373-7888 | This is a confidential hotline for victims, survivors, and those who have witnessed human trafficking. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Users can get help by phone, text, or live chat. Help is available in English or Spanish. Human trafficking occurs when a person is compelled to work or engage in commercial sex through force, fraud, and coercion | Trafficking |
| National Maternal Mental Health Hotline | 1-833-852-6262 | This hotline provides free, confidential support. Services are available before, during, and after pregnancy. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Counselors speak English and Spanish. | All forms of GBV |
| National Runaway Safeline | 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) | The mission of the National Runaway Safeline is to keep America's runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. Youth and family members can get help by phone, chat, email, text, or through an online forum. Users can get help to work through problems. They can also get local help from social service agencies and organizations. Some people just need someone to talk to. Others need help finding shelter, food, medical assistance, or counseling. Some youth are on the streets. Others are struggling with issues at home. The Safeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. | Trafficking |
| National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline | 1-866-331-9474 | This is a national helpline for teens and young adults. The helpline is available 24 hours a day. Users can access the helpline by phone, text, or live chat. It offers real-time, one-on-one support from peer advocates. These trained advocates offer support, information, and advocacy to those who are in dating abuse relationships. The helpline also offers services to concerned friends, parents, teachers, clergy, law enforcement, and service providers. | IPV |
| Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Online Hotline | 1-800-656-4673 | RAINN is the largest network of rape and abuse survivors in the nation. It runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Trained support specialists staff the hotline. RAINN also offers tips on how to help survivors. Its site has information about ways to get involved in the campaign for a more just system for victims. RAINN has an online chat; this may be a safer option for those in a shared space with an abuser. | IPV |
| Safe Hotline | 1-877-995-5247 | This hotline from the Department of Defense (DoD) is for people within the DoD community who are affected by sexual assault. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is anonymous and confidential. It provides help and information by phone and live chat. It also offers an app and group chat service. Users can access one-on-one support and peer-to-peer support. They can also access information, resources, and self-care exercises to aid in their recovery. | IPV |
| StrongHearts Native Hotline | 1-844-762-8483 | This is a free helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives affected by domestic and sexual violence. The helpline is confidential and anonymous. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It offers support and advocacy that is culturally appropriate. | IPV |
| Tahirih Justice Center Forced Marriage Initiative | 1-571-282-6161 | The Forced Marriage Initiative offers free support to people from the United States who are facing forced marriage in or outside the United States. The project offers support regardless of your age, race, class, gender, immigration status, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion. They will discuss your rights and options. They will guide you through the steps you can take to keep safe. They will also help you find resources in your area. This includes emergency shelter, legal services, counseling, and other help. The information you share is confidential. | Forced Marriage / IPV |
| The National 911 Program | 911 | The National 911 Program provides leadership and coordination to support 911 services across the nation. It is the federal "home" for 911. | All forms of GBV |
| The Network/La Red | 1-800-832-1901 | This is a hotline for LGBTQ people who are being abused, or who have a history of abuse, by a partner. It also serves people in kink or polyamorous communities who face abuse. The hotline offers support, information, and referrals. It also provides safety planning and crisis intervention. It is available 24 hours a day. All services are confidential. The hotline also helps friends, families, and co-workers with the issue of domestic violence in LGBTQ communities. Hotline staff have training in domestic violence and peer counseling. They also have training in crisis intervention and safety planning. | IPV |
| Trevor Lifeline and Trevor Chat | 1-866-488-7386 | This hotline provides counseling for LGBTQ youth who are suicidal or in crises of all kinds, even pandemics! Although The Trevor Project does not offer IPV-specific support, LGBTQ youth experiencing suicidal ideation related to teen dating violence can reach a counselor through text, by phone, or through online instant messaging. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Services are free and confidential. | IPV |
| VictimConnect Resource Center (VCRC) Helpline | 1-855-484-2846 | The VCRC serves victims of crime anywhere in the United States and its territories. VCRC offers a phone and text hotline. It also has online chat. The National Center for Victims of Crime operates the hotline. Visitors to the hotline receive services and referrals that are strength-based and trauma-informed. The helpline provides services in more than 200 languages. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time Monday–Friday. | All forms of GBV |
Sources:
Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Ending Gender-based Violence Globally
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Intimate Partner Violence
Dating Matters Toolkit: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships
Memorandum on the Establishment of the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse
National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments: Child Sex Trafficking
RAINN: Scope of the Problem: Statistics
Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
The World Bank's Gender Data Portal
U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service: Forced Marriage
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Forced Marriage
U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action