Craig — Advocates Crisis Support Services in Craig invites community members to join in the National Moment of Silence for domestic violence victims at 9 a.m. Thursday at Moffat County Courthouse. Craig Mayor Ray Beck will speak at the event.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and organizers seek to acknowledge the nearly 20 people who are abused every minute in the U.S., adding up to 10 million abuse victims every year, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Women are disproportionately affected by domestic and sexual violence. According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women have been raped in their lifetime, compared to one in 59 men, and one in four women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, compared to one in seven men.

In homes where domestic violence is present, children are more likely to be abused or neglected as well. In 2013, Moffat County children experienced child abuse at a rate of 11.4 per 1,000 children under age 18, compared to 8.1 per 1,000 statewide.

Advocates will also host an educational event about domestic violence from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Clarion Inn & Suites.