Features
Violence Against Women Act Needs More Senate Sponsors
February 9, 2012, Washington, D.C.
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), first enacted in 1994, gives law enforcement, prosecutors and judges the resources they need to hold offenders accountable and keep communities safe while supporting victims. VAWA programs now also address the need to prevent violence and abuse, and engage more stakeholders in the work to prevent and respond, such as health care providers and employers. Now that it’s time for reauthorization, we need your help to ensure the continuation of these vital, lifesaving programs and laws.
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Standing Up for Yeardley Love
The trial of George Huguely for the alleged murder of his ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love began this week, bringing the nation’s attention once again to the tragic consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV). Love, a University of Virginia lacrosse player, was murdered in May 2010 shortly after breaking up with her boyfriend, George Huguely. While this case may seem like an anomaly, abuse can occur among the well-educated and well-off, and the devastating truth is that forms of dating or intimate partner violence are actually quite common amongst college students.
In fact, college-age women continue to be at particular risk for gender-based violence, including sexual assault, IPV, and stalking. The Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that women ages 20-24 are at highest risk for dating violence, and a 2007 National Institute of Justice-sponsored study confirms that one in five women will experience sexual assault in their college years.
[...]Esta Soler Testifies Before Attorney General Eric Holder's Task Force
FEBRUARY 1, 2012, ALBUQUERQUE. Yesterday Futures Without Violence Founder and President Esta Soler testified before Attorney General Eric Holder's National Task Force on Chlidren Exposed to Violence. The public hearing stemmed from Attorney General Holder's Defending Childhood Initiative, which was launched in 2011 to harness resources from across the Department of Justice to prevent, mitigate the negative impact of, and develop knowledge about children's exposure to violence. [...]
