Today, the House of Representatives voted 222-204 to remove the arbitrary timeline on the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. “Today the United States House of Representatives voted that there is no time limit on equality,” said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation. “Now it’s up to the Senate to agree and clear […]
“Anti-Feminist” Lawyer Allegedly Shoots Female Judge’s Family, Killing Her Son
Roy Den Hollander, a lawyer from George Washington University Law School, who described himself as an “anti-feminist” and someone who defends “men’s rights”, shot himself and is the primary suspect in the shooting of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas’ husband and son. The FBI has confirmed his death and the death of Salas’ son. When investigators […]
Only 33 House Republicans Support the Violence Against Women Act
The House passed the Violence Against Women Act yesterday in a 263-158 vote, with 33 Republicans voting for the bill, and 157 voting against the re-authorization. The current law only bars gun ownership for convicted abusers who are married to their victim, live with their victim, or have a child with their victim. A new […]
House to Vote on the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization
The House is set to vote on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act tomorrow. The law expired in February during the government shutdown. A new provision in the bill will prevent convicted stalkers or dating partners convicted of domestic abuse from owning a gun. The current law only prevents those convicted of abuse and […]
Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Nuisance Ordinances
Local laws known as nuisance ordinances have been popping up in hundreds of towns and cities across the country, marketed as a way to deter criminal activity by fining landlords whose properties are frequented by the police. In reality, they punish victims of domestic violence by forcing them to choose between their personal safety and the risk of homelessness.
Supreme Court Upholds Tribal Sovereignty in Split Decision
The Supreme Court yesterday affirmed that non-Tribal businesses and individuals can legally face civil suit in Tribal courts.
Obama Administration Issues New Rule to Strengthen Response to Campus Sexual Violence
After the Department of Education’s announcement of final rule on implementing changes last week, the Clery Act will now more effectively address and report campus violence.
Violence Against Women Act Turns 20
Passed in 1994, VAWA was the first piece of federal legislation to specifically address domestic violence and sexual assault as crimes and to provide federal funding to improve local response to violence against women, including training and resources for law enforcement and judges.
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Advocating for an Inclusive VAWA
by Amanda Reed, Communications Intern at the National Organization for Women On Feb. 12, the Senate passed an inclusive version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that would include provisions for previously-unprotected groups. Last week, the House revealed its own version of VAWA: a watered-down, non-inclusive bill that cuts out these protections. Sound familiar? […]
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Prioritizing Campus Safety
There is a crisis at colleges and universities across the nation. In just the first six weeks of 2013, a Huffington Post survey found 75 instances of sexual assaults reported on college campuses. This is outrageous, but we shouldn’t be surprised. A U.S. Department of Justice study found that around 28 percent of womenare targets […]
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Save #VAWA! Pass the Violence Against Women Act: A HERVotes Blog Carnival
by Eleanor Smeal, Feminist Majority Foundation and Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, MomsRising.org UPDATE (2/28/2013): VICTORY! The House of Representatives decided to stand with students, Native Americans, immigrants, and the LGBT community and passed the Senate inclusive #VAWA in a vote 286-138! ———— At last the House will vote on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) today. The […]
HERvotes Blog Carnival: Reauthorize the Real VAWA – Reject “VAWA Lite”
By Kim Gandy, VP and General Counsel, Feminist Majority Foundation HERvotes is 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 […]
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HERvotes Blog Carnival: Tell Congress to Reauthorize VAWA
by Eleanor Smeal, Feminist Majority Foundation For the eleventh #HERvotes blog carnival, we’re joining together to urge the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). 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 […]
When Did Stopping Violence Against Women Become Political?
Last Thursday, I attended the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting when they voted to send the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 to the Senate floor for a vote. Every Committee Democrat voted yes and every Republican voted no. Most of the Republicans didn’t even show up to cast their no votes, but did so […]
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HERvotes Blog Carnival: Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act
by Emily Alfano, National Council of Jewish Women For the eighth #HERvotes blog carnival, our coalition of women’s groups is joining forces for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey found alarming rates of sexual violence, stalking, and domestic […]
Joining Forces – Women Veterans Speak Out: The Trenches, Remembered
by Joan Grey, Business and Professional Women’s Foundation Mentoring Liaison We all have our stories. Maybe these narratives, rather than DNA, are really what make us human. On the topic of military sexual trauma, I turned to my West Point women classmates for their input. Ours was the first co-ed class. Out of over 900 […]
HERvotes: How the Youth, Women and Minority Vote are at Stake in 2012
By Francesca Witcher This post is part of the #Hervotes Blog Carnival and was originally posted on the Feminist Campus Blog. The Feminist Majority Foundation and Ms. Magazine are partnering with other organizations that represent women and people of color in a Health and Economic Right or HERvotes initiative for the election in 2012. FMF’s […]
