NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. - It's an alarming statistic--South Carolina ranks second in the nation for the number of women killed by men.

Monday in Columbia, the 32 people killed last year in domestic violence were remembered during the annual Silent Witness ceremony.

Almost one year to the date of the deaths of her sister and niece, Tanya Sullivan stood on the steps of South Carolina's capitol to speak out against the thing that took their lives, domestic violence.

“It's one year out, but to us it feels like yesterday,” says Tanya.

Almost a year ago, Tanya lost her sister Alicia and niece Jade. They were killed by someone they trusted, Alicia's husband. Two more victim's of domestic homicide.

"South Carolina continues to be in the top 10 for domestic violence,” says Tanya. “This year, they were number two for domestic homicides, men against women, which is amazing that we're number two, as we're a pretty small state."

Tanya and her family traveled to Columbia to remember her sister, her niece, and the 30 other victims who lost their lives to domestic violence in 2007 in South Carolina.

Looking back now and knowing the signs that were there, Tanya wishes she and her family could've done more, that law enforcement could've done more.

Tanya says the important thing now is to raise awareness on domestic violence.

"I've said it several times. if my family and I can save one life in the name of Alicia and Jade, then we'll feel like they did not die in vain. That they served their purpose while here on Earth and that's the main important thing for us and if we can prevent on family from going through what we went through, it's worth it."

At Monday's Silent Witness ceremony, family members and friends held up life-size silhouettes representing each victim of domestic violence.

Attorney General Henry McMaster has named domestic violence the number one crime problem in South Carolina. More than 36,000 victims annually report a domestic violence incident to law enforcement agencies around the state. Over the past eight years, an average of 38 women are killed each year by their intimate partner.