By Kim Gandy, VP and General Counsel, Feminist Majority Foundation
HERvotes i
s joining our voices together in a blog carnival urging passage of the “real” Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization — the bi-partisan bill that has already passed the Senate.
The House has passed a version of VAWA reauthorization that some have called “VAWA Lite” or “fake VAWA” – because it removes the Senate bill’s provisions addressing safety on campuses and protections for LGBT, immigrant and Native American survivors of violence.
Every two minutes someone in the United States is sexually assaulted. Domestic violence results in over two million injuries every year. Three women die every day in the United States as the result of domestic violence.
Since the passage of VAWA in 1994, the rate of intimate partner violence has declined by 67%. VAWA provides services to victims of violence and has improved the criminal justice response to violence against women. But the last reauthorization of VAWA expired December 31, 2011.
Eliminating violence against women is not… must not… be a partisan issue.
HERvotes urges the House to pass the bi-partisan Senate VAWA and extend VAWA’s lifesaving programs and services for another five years.
Join us by sharing the posts below on Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #HERvotes), and other social media. And be sure to follow @HERvotes on Twitter!
#HERvotes, a multi-organization campaign launched in August 2011, advocates women using our voices and votes to stop the attacks on the women’s movement’s major advances, many of which are at risk in the next election.
Cross-posted with #HERVotes.
Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.
Read More:
3 Reasons It’s Critical to Reauthorize VAWA Now – Cristina Finch, Amnesty International
Ending Violence Against All Women-Christine Miranda, NOW
Turning “Ifs” into “Whens”: College Students Like Me Need Reauthorization of a Full VAWA – Dana Bolger, NWLC
Violence Exists. Women Exist. The Violence Against Women Act Should Too – Tessa Ross, Women’s Campaign Fund
AAUW Rallies for Inclusive VAWA – Laura Dietrich, AAUW
Violence Against Women at College? Something to Worry About – Allyson Bach, NWPC
Inadequate Legislation Empowers Abusers – Anny Bolganio, Coalition of Labor Union Women
Violence is Violence, No Matter What Gender – Samantha Aster, NWPC
Class Matters: Why VAWA Needs to Be Reauthorized – Danielle Marryshow, NWPC
Tragedy in Springfield, Mass.: When VAWA and Local Domestic Violence Intersect – Mary Reardon Johnson, YWCA USA
Perpetrators Don’t Discriminate, So Why is Congress? – Maggie Fridinger, National Council of Women’s Organizations
Save Our Campuses: Pass VAWA – Dani Nispel, National Council of Women’s Organizations
Empower Women: Reauthorize VAWA Today! – Hailey Cayne, Coalition of Labor Union Women
Joining the Chorus for VAWA – Arezu Kaywanfar, National Council of Jewish Women
Pass a Final Violence Against Women Act that Includes Campus SaVe – Chelsea Feuchs, Jewish Women International
Saving VAWA – Rev. Dr. E. Faye Williams, National Congress of Black Women
NASW Still Supports Passage of Violence Against Women Act – National Association of Social Workers
Violent Against Women Act Helps Kids Too – Martha Burk
