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. But there was a time when things were even worse: The rate of intimate partner violence has declined by 67 percent since the passage of VAWA in 1993. VAWA provides services to victims of violence and has improved the criminal justice response to violence against women.
VAWA expired December 31, 2011. Finally, in February, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move VAWA to the Senate floor. The committee’s vote was strictly along party lines–10 Democratic members voting yes and eight Republicans voting no.
This week, at last, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act will be voted on by the whole Senate. Currently, 61 Senators (53 Democrats and 8 Republicans) are co-sponsoring the reauthorization. HERvotes is urging all Senators to vote yes. Eliminating violence against women is not–and must not–be a partisan issue.
HERvotes urges Congress to reauthorize this landmark legislation 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. We’ll keep updating this page with more posts, so check back often!
Read More:
Group Opposes VAWA Because Act Helps Lesbians -Ben Atherton-Zeman, Ms.
Why is the U.S. Senate is Playing Politics with Violence Against Women?– Gloria Lau, YWCA USA
The Violence Against Women Act: Fact vs. Fiction– Miri Cypers, Jewish Women International
The Struggle to End Violence Against Women Encounters a Road Block-Nancy K. Kaufman, National Council of Jewish Women
Newsweek Glamorizes Women’s Submission-Lisa Bennett, NOW
Congress Rocking Back the Clock for Women– Janet Hill, Coalition for Labor Union Women
VAWA Reauthorization and Economic Security for Survivors– Sarah Gonzalez Bocinski, Wider Opportunities for Women
Read our Previous Posts:
A Critical Tool to Save Lives: VAWA -Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III, American Bar Association
Violence Is a Cycle: We Must Reauthorize VAWA -John Roach, Break the Cycle
Calling for the Reauthorization of VAWA– Brandi Callaghan, Feminist Majority Foundation
Immigration, Intimate Partner Violence, and the Violence Against Women Act -Anjela Jenkins, Law Students for Reproductive Justice Fellow, blogging for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
Teen Dating Violence -Christine Bork, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
10,000 Men Supporting VAWA– Ben Atherton-Zeman, Ms.
Hey Congress, How About Giving Half the Population Some Love? -Janet Hill, Coalition of Labor Union Women
“It’s a Good Time To Be a Black Woman? Well, Not So Good When It Comes To Violence”– Angela Sutton, Black Women’s Health Imperative
Combating Domestic Violence: A Call to Reauthorize VAWA– Mallen Urso, National Women’s Political Caucus
Taking the Violence Against Women Act to Higher Ground– Emily Alfano, NCJW
Tell Your Senator to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act Now- Elizabeth Owens, AAUW
Why VAWA is a Queer Issue- Terra Slavin, L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center and Sharon Stapel, New York City Anti-Violence Project
Universities Should Support VAWA- Melissa Siegel, loveisrespect.org National Youth Advisory Board
Students Against Dating/Domestic Abuse– Sara Skavroneck, loveisrespect.org National Youth Advisory Board
Loveisrespect.org- National Youth Advisory Board Against Dating Violence– Kevin Mauro, loveisrespect.org National Youth Advisory Board
Teenage Dating Violence and VAWA– Nikki Desario, loveisrespect.org National Youth Advisory Board
Joining Forces – Women Veterans Speak Out: The Trenches, Remembered– Joan Grey, Business and Professional Women’s Foundation
Violence Against Women Act up for Reauthorization– National Association of Social Workers
Wake up, People! Domestic Violence is an Epidemic!– Donna Pantry, Elf Lady’s Chronicles
Recession and Women: How Economic Insecurity Enables Abuse– Donna Addkison’s, Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW)
More Bipartisan Support Needed for Violence Against Women Act– Terry O’Neill, Say It Sister- NOW’s Blog for Equality
Take Action:
Click here to tell YOUR Senator to reauthorize VAWA! (Feminist Majority)
Click here to thank the act’s sponsors and to urge all non-sponsors to support it. (Hadassah)
#HERvotes, a multi-organization campaign launched in August 2011, advocates women using our voices and votes to stop the attacks on the major advances of the women’s movement, many of which are at risk in the next election.
Photo from Flickr user garryknight under Creative Commons.
