“Overall, lifetime and one year estimates for sexual violence, stalking and intimate partner violence were alarmingly high for adult Americans; with IPV alone affecting more than 12 million people each year. Women are disproportionately impacted. They experienced high rates of severe intimate partner violence, rape and stalking, and long-term chronic disease and other health impacts such as PTSD symptoms. NISVS also shows that most rape and IPV is first experienced before age 24, highlighting the importance of preventing this violence before it occurs to ensure that all people can live life to their fullest potential.” CDC: The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS)
Can you guess what our U.S. Congress’ approval rating is? 14.6 percent. Who are the 14.6 percent, relatives of senators and congresspeople?
If you haven’t heard, the Violence Against Women’s Act is up for reauthorization. The Act first passed in 1994 and provided for programs such as:
- Community violence prevention programs
- Protections for victims who are evicted from their homes because of events related to domestic violence or stalking
- Funding for victim assistance services, like rape crisis centers and hotlines
- Programs to meet the needs of immigrant women and women of different races or ethnicities
- Programs and services for victims with disabilities
- Legal aid for survivors of violence
In 2005, when it came up for reauthorization, the ACLU wrote a letter in support, stating:
“VAWA 2005 is a landmark piece of legislation that makes great inroads toward ending violence against women. We strongly urge you to support the Violence Against Women Act of 2005. The lives of battered women and children depend on your support of this important legislation.”
So, during a time when the U.S. Congress is extremely partisan, the Democrats decided it would be brilliant to add three provisions to the Act, provisions that even I know the Republicans would never, ever approve. Why did the Democrats add them? I don’t know, but I think it’s disingenuous to suggest that the Republicans are holding up the reauthorization. THE REAL STORY IS THAT WOMEN CONTINUE TO BE PAWNS USED BY BOTH PARTIES!
Here are the issues:
- The Dems want to add specific language that the VAWA covers ‘gay and transgender’ victims. The Republicans don’t want to put ‘gay and transgender’ in their bill. Let’s remember that the Violence Against Women’s Act is for women. It is for women, because women are disproportionately affected by violence against them by intimate partners. Adding specific labels on what “kinds” of women is absurd.
- The Dems want to allow Native American women, arguably one of the most affected groups of U.S. women when it comes to violence, to prosecute abusers in their tribal legal system and not through the U.S. Courts. I doubt this is even constitutional and if a person is an abuser is convicted, where do they go to jail? Would they have a record with the U.S. justice system?
- Lastly, the Dems want illegal immigrants that are abused to be fast-tracked on a path to citizenship. I can’t imagine what kind of justice system we would have if we gave battered illegal immigrant woman citizenship. It’s as if they would be given a “prize” for being beaten. Then the question becomes, is it worth it to be battered just to gain citizenship? Would it incite women to make up stories?
What is so upsetting is that the YWCA actually thinks the provisions make sense. The YWCA manages shelters across the country. Why are they ok with holding up funds for battered women in order to implement these three provisions?
Using battered women as pawns is not only vulgar, it is disgusting. Pass the VAWA as it has stood for almost 20 years! The time for playing political games has passed.
