Violence Against Women Act: Amnesty International Asks us to Urge Congress to Support Full Funding

[Time for change]

According to Department of Justice statistics based on interview surveys, approximately two million acts of violence, including 180 thousand rapes, attempted rapes or sexual assaults, were committed against women in 2005; almost two thirds of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault victims know the perpetrator; less than half of rape victims report their rapes to the police; and more than half of all rape victims are less than 18 years of age.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in September of 1994, while the Democrats still had control of Congress, over the opposition of the good majority of Congressional Republicans. The Act was “a collection of funding programs, initiatives and actions designed to improve criminal justice and community-based responses to violence against women, including sexual violence”.

In 2005, the Act was reauthorized and expanded, to especially target Native American and Alaskan Native women, because of their disproportionate risk of violence. However, pResident Bush has never requested any funding for the provisions of the reauthorized Act.


The special problem of violence against Native American women

As described by Amnesty International (AI) in “Maze of Injustice: The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA”, Native American women are more than two and a half times likely to be raped or sexually assaulted in our country than are other women, and more than one third of them will be raped at some point in their life. 86% of the reported cases are perpetrated by non-Native men.

The reason for the high vulnerability of Native American women (compared to other women) appears to be related to long standing racist attitudes towards them. According to Amnesty International:

Indigenous women were raped by settlers and soldiers in many infamous episodes including during the Trail of Tears and the Long Walk. Such attacks were not random or individual; they were tools of conquest and colonization. The underlying attitudes towards Indigenous peoples that supported these human rights violations committed against them continue to be present in society and culture in the USA. They contribute to the present high rates of sexual violence perpetrated against Indigenous women and help to shield their attackers from justice.

Thus, there are a variety of reasons for the high vulnerability of Native American women to sexual violence, including: lack of funding for tribal law enforcement agencies; racial hatred against Native American women; and a maze of bureaucratic rules involving Native American tribes, such as the rule that tribal prosecutors aren’t allowed to prosecute crimes committed by non-Native perpetrators.


Amnesty International asks us to urge Congress to support full funding of VAWA

The 2005 expanded version of VAWA “seeks to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the United States and provide victims with vital resources.” The most important change from 1994 is its provision for special protection of Native American and Alaskan Native women.

In response to Amnesty International’s report, Congress has held hearings and is considering several bills which would substantially increase funding for VAWA. However, AI says, “But with critical budget decisions for 2008 expected imminently, we urgently need your help.”

To assist us with contacting our Senators and Representatives, AI has provided us, at this site, with a letter that we can e-mail or print out and mail to our Senators and Representative. The letter, which can be edited at the site, reads:

Dear XXX:

I am deeply concerned by the level of sexual assault experienced by Native American and Alaska Native women. Federal government studies have consistently shown that Native American and Alaska Native women experience much higher levels of sexual violence than other women in the United States. According to the US Department of Justice, more than 1 in 3 Native American and Alaska Native women will be raped during their lifetime. Indigenous women are being denied protection and there is a systematic failure to punish those responsible for these crimes.

In 2005 the efforts of Native American and Alaska Native women’s activists resulted in VAWA for the first time including a Tribal Title (Title IX) that seeks to improve safety and justice for American Indian and Alaska Native women. The Tribal Title authorizes initiatives that would shed light on the situation of violence against Native American and Alaska Native women in the United States and seek justice for the survivors.

I urge you to support full funding of the Violence Against Women Act and in particular the appropriation of $2.5 million for the Tribal Title.

[hfojvt]

1. I second that

What do Republicans say about their opposition?

[Time for change]

2. I don't know what the Republicans said about their opposition

This was 1994, and they were making a big deal about their "Contract with America", which included lowering taxes. I guess they were just trying to cut corners wherever they could. Just like they did with Veterans health benefits in 2005. I guess they wanted to be able to criticize the "tax and spend liberals".

[Time for change]

3. Funding for this bill is in conflict with the George Bush's War

Due to pressure from activist groups, the 2005 bill passed Congress by a good margin. It had $3.9 billion worth of provisions in it, but the bill itself did not provide funding. According to the National Research Group for Women and Families:

Despite the overwhelming Congressional votes for VAWA, that does not mean that the same Congress will vote for adequate funding to support the programs. Very strong public support of VAWA will be necessary to convince Congress to provide adequate funding.

That's why pressure needs to be put on Congress to come up with the funding for this bill.

[pingzing58]

4. The Catholic church's stance against women plus the Islamic stance against women; etc.

since every major culture, society, and religion has institutionalized treating women (females) less than equal and failing to protect them I fully support the Violence Against women Act. I'll contact my Reps today. Thanks.

[Time for change]

5. Great, thanks

That's the way that I feel about it.

And as AI points out, this is also a human rights issue -- which is why they are involved in it.