Is this love?
Read a poem about domestic abuse created by the Facebook community for our Is this love campaign
First-ever poem created by Facebook users read by survivor of domestic abuse.
In the lead up to Valentine’s Day, we have been asking the Facebook community to help compose an online poem about domestic abuse as part of the Is this love? Facebook campaign.
Each day, we have been choosing a different line suggested by Facebook users and then adding it to the poem. The poem has been compiled over 10 days and has been completed for Valentine’s day.
To mark Valentine’s Day, the finished poem has been read by a survivor of domestic abuse as well as being published on the Is this love? Facebook page. Select this link to read the poem.
The Is this love? Facebook page aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse amongst young people and show that it is not always physical violence, it can be emotional and financial as well.
Domestic abuse in teenage relationships is surprisingly common. A recent NSPCC study¹ into issues of partner violence in teenage intimate relationships found:
- Nearly three-quarters of girls and half of boys reported some form of emotional partner violence.
- Three-quarters of girls and 14 per cent of boys stated that physical violence had negatively impacted on their welfare.
- A quarter of girls and 18 per cent of boys reported some form of physical violence.
Detective Superintendent John Clements said: “The campaign has enabled us to reach a young audience in a way they are familiar with.
“Using films and blogs as well as statistics has helped educate and inform young people about help and support.
“We have had a great response and the poem has encouraged interaction and discussion about the subject.”
A spokesperson for the NSPCC said: "A third of girls suffer unwanted sexual acts in a relationship and a quarter physical violence. It is shocking to find that so many young people view violence or abuse in relationships as normal and many will not tell their parents what is happening.
“We must make sure that every young person knows this behaviour is never acceptable, that nobody should hurt or scare them."