My friend used to volunteer with a domestic abuse women's shelter. She told me that she felt most sorry for the Muslim women and the Catholic women because they were consistently re-victimized by their respective religions.
The City Attorney where I lived at the time made domestic violence her number one priority. I think most municipalities or counties now have victim advoates to help women get counseling, medical treatment, education, or whatever resources they need to get out of the situation. Many women have been helped by these advocates. If the victim will not press charges (and, believe it or not, many victims defend the perpetrator), the police can do it insteat.
Sadly, too many women have been brought up to believe men are acting "normally" when they abuse women and children. Others seem to have some kind of persecution/martyr complex that makes them accept abuse.
The secular authorities have to take charge of this issue. Apparently, most religious authorities will not, because they're still the "good ol' boy" network.