Women's group holds domestic violence forum for Hmong community

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A local organization is hoping education and leadership will prevent domestic violence in the Hmong community.

The Central California Asian Pacific Women's Organization hosted their annual community forum on the issue at Clovis Community College Saturday. It's the third year they've brought together community leaders and victims groups to help educate people and empower victims.

Organizers said they want people to feel comfortable talking about the sensitive topic so victims and survivors don't feel alone.

"Especially with Southeast Asian communities like the Hmong community who often came here as refugees and have very traumatic experiences in their past," CCAPW president Gena Gong explained. "It's even more of a stigma for people to talk about this."

In the Hmong community, respected leaders of different clans or familial groups are looked up to for conflict negotiation and religious rituals. Clan leaders were in attendance at the forum to take part in the discussion.