One day in September 2007, 53,000 women and children reached out for help. Some had to leave their homes. They were afraid. Many had scrapes and bruises covering their bodies, and others had broken bones. An additional 7,000 women and children could not find the help they needed, and three were dead by the end of the day. It happened in a single day, and it went largely unnoticed because it was just another day in America.

Every day in this country and around the world, women and children are forced to leave their homes because they are beaten and abused by husbands and fathers who claim to love them. While domestic violence is no longer considered a private family matter, our society still holds many myths about the problem and, in far too many places, there is still little consequence for those who batter. We have to better educate our country's leaders and the general public about what domestic violence is and how it affects each and every one of us.

If I were president, I would launch a national public-awareness campaign to address current misconceptions of domestic violence. The campaign would educate the public about the devastating effects of domestic violence, outline the societal costs that affect us all, and demonstrate how power and control perpetuate the cycle of domestic violence. The campaign would encourage open dialogue about the issue, provide information and resources to help victims escape abuse, and help the general public understand what they can do to help and support victims.

But public awareness alone is not enough. When the public has a better understanding of domestic violence and knows what resources are available to help victims, the demand for services will increase dramatically. We must be prepared to provide comprehensive services to ensure that victims have the resources and support they need to escape abusive relationships and attain independence. As president, I would ensure that the funding streams to provide these services were adequate, including the funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). Fully funded, these funding streams represent less than 1 percent of the entire federal budget, and they are a necessary investment in saving lives.

I would also ask Congress to make welfare, health care and education reform a priority; and to increase the minimum wage, allowing women to truly attain financial security for their families. I would also work to build international relationships to address violence against women around the world.

If I were president, I would do everything in my power to ensure that one in three women wouldn't be beaten or abused in her lifetime. I would work to ensure that shelters for women and children would not be forced to close their doors for lack of funds. I would make it a priority to ensure that women had access to attorneys, job training, housing and quality child care.

I envision a world in which our granddaughters never know what it is like to be afraid in their homes, and in which committing the crime of domestic violence is wholly unthinkable. I would ask every citizen to join me in making this vision a reality. Together, we can end domestic violence if we truly commit to protecting and supporting women and children, and holding abusers accountable.