Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 in the United States Senate on June 8. The bill, which was first enacted in 1994 and re-authorized in 2000, will expire in September unless Congress acts.
VAWA 2005 would continue essential programs and enhance the civil and criminal justice response to violence and create a new dedicated grant program for sexual assault victims that will strengthen the 1,300 rape crisis centers across the country.
"VAWA has achieved so much over the past ten years to enhance justice and community responses to violence against women," said Marybeth Carter, president of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. "We are especially pleased about the new Sexual Assault Services Act, which provides the first funding exclusively focused on support services for victims of sexual assault."
The bill also includes measures to promote the collaboration between domestic violence experts and child welfare agencies, and to strengthen the health care system's response to family violence with programs to train and educate health care professionals, foster family violence screening for patients, and study the health ramifications of family violence. It would also provide money for programs to engage men and youth in preventing violence.
How can you help?
Contact your federal legislators to re-authorize VAWA. The following is a list of "talking points" that you can include in your letters or refer to when calling the state offices of your legislators....
- The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 increased options for victims and made it possible for many women to leave abusive relationships. It also improved the criminal justice system's response to violence by training police and prosecutors to respond more effectively.
- VAWA is gender neutral. Since it was first passed, the law has provided immeasurable help to women, men and children.
- After reauthorization in 2000, important services were added for immigrant, rural, disabled and older women. This work must continue.
- VAWA will expire this year. If Congress does not reauthorize it and increase funding, the gains achieved could well be reversed. Victims will suffer.
- On average in this country 700 women are raped or sexually assaulted and 3 women are murdered by their boyfriends or husbands every day.
- We must build on past efforts and help prevent violence before it begins by targeting our children. And we must target more resources for our marginalized citizens, including immigrant and Native American women.
- We must build healthy communities. VAWA is a critical piece of the puzzle.
Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. Ask for your senator or representative.
Sample Phone Script (Keep in mind that you don't have to read this verbatim. Use your own voice. Express whatever makes you comfortable.):
"As a constitutent, I am asking that you support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005, which was introduced this summer in both the House and Senate. As you know, VAWA is set to expire this September if it is not reauthorized. Since 1994, VAWA has helped millions of women and children escape the cycle of violence, and we need your help in making sure that this very important work can continue.
"I urge you to continue the progress that VAWA has made in the past -- building strong prevention systems to stop violence before it begins, educating about the effects that violence has on youth and children, and engaging men as allies. Again, please co-sponsor the Violence Against Women Act. Thank you."
Sample Letter (As with the phone script above, you don't have to copy this script word for word. Include your personal thoughts as well.):
Dear Senator/Representative (Name):
As a constituent, I am writing to urge you to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA was passed in 1994 and has helped millions of women, children and families over the past 10 years. Not only has VAWA strengthened civil and criminal responses to violence, it has also funded essential programs and helped families deal with the harm caused by abuse. VAWA is set to expire in September, and families across the nation need your help.
The evidence shows that VAWA is working; over the last decade, we have finally begun to make progress as domestic and sexual violence have begun to decline. But there is still much work to do. Each day, husbands or boyfriends murder an average of 3 women and more than 700 women are raped or sexually assaulted. Countless children witness this violence.
These children are more likely to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems, such as depression, anxiety and violence towards their peers. They are also more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs, runaway from home, engage in prostitution, and commit sexual assault crimes. That is why this year VAWA also needs to focus new energy on prevention.
Because of the immense impact of violence on women, children, and families, I encourage you to support the speedy reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Thank you again for your time and support.
Sincerely,
(your name and address)For more information on VAWA, log onto www.vawa2005.org.
(Above article provided by Family Violence Prevention Fund.)
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