According to the Facebook page (Black Dot Campaign), the idea is that a victim puts a black dot – drawn in felt tip pen – on their hand to raise alarm and alert others to their situation.

The campaign started earlier this month, and has already reached more than five million people on social media. The black dot is not the only way to access help but it could be the one that could help a particular person. “Please spread the campaign, and post a picture of your hand with the black dot, to show your support to all survivors of domestic violence”.

They also want ‘to open up the world’s eyes and ears to what is going on in terms of abuse’.

This is not a campaign that has been set up or recognised by any domestic violence charities, but it is instead a social media movement seeking to help those that are trapped in abusive relationships and aren’t easily able to seek help. Far too many women and children who request help are turned away because of lack of funds. Her experiences inspired her to launch the campaign. She added that this campaign was targeted towards domestic abuse’s “most vulnerable victims”.

The goal is for the black dot to serve as a subtle, yet urgent, message to agencies, relatives, friends, doctors and others that a victim is in need of services to help them escape the abuse. The RVAP’s specialty is helping anyone affected by sexual violence, which they say is one kind of domestic abuse.

‘I know I can’t ask for help and when ever anyone comes near me he’s there, next to me, intimidating me.

‘She came round today and said hi XXXXX we need to update your records about the black dot, you know your health, would you like me to do that today.

“It can be very hard and risky for victims of domestic abuse to speak out about what is happening to them, due to fear of what the perpetrator will do, and fear of not being believed”, Polly Neate, chief executive of Women’s Aid, told HuffPost United Kingdom “The black dot could help some victims to communicate their abuse and it is useful to have a range of options because women’s circumstances vary greatly”.