Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Update

February 2, 2012, Washington, D.C.

The Senate Judiciary Committee today passed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. This is the first major step in renewing this landmark piece of legislation known by many as VAWA. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration and will be taken up in the House of Representatives later this year.

“We are grateful to Senators Leahy and Crapo for introducing this important piece of legislation that has set the standard for our national response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking,” said Esta Soler, President and Founder of Futures Without Violence.

Does Your Doctor Screen for Intimate Partner Violence?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College) announced this week their committee opinion that all ob-gyn doctors should routinely screen women for intimate partner violence (IPV). This marks the first time that a major medical association has formally recognized reproductive coercion as an important issue related to abusive and controlling relationships. Specifically, reproductive coercion refers to behaviors that a partner engages in to promote unintended pregnancy against a woman’s will by sabotaging her use of contraception and/or by using threats or abuse if she does not comply with his desires about the pregnancy outcome. [...]