You or Someone You Know . . .
The latest study on sexual assault was released in December and for some suggested a new awareness of how widespread sexual violence against women really is. In fact, the new figures by and large merely confirm what we know from earlier studies: violence against women is an all-too-common experience. The bottom line: 1 in 3 women report being victims of rape, beating and/or stalking.
The latest study on sexual assault was released in December and for some, suggested a new awareness of how widespread sexual violence against women really is.
In fact, the new figures by and large merely confirm what we know from earlier studies: violence against women is an all-too-common experience. The bottom line: 1 in 3 women report being victims of rape, beating and/or stalking. The report also highlighted the common experience of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic health conditions for survivors of sexual or domestic violence. Many people live with the consequences for years.
While there are ongoing discussions about research statistics in this area, one thing we do know is that violence against women is always underreported both to law enforcement and to independent surveys. So whatever the numbers, we have to assume the problem is even larger.
All of this leads us to highlight the Violence Against Women Act which is up for reauthorization in the U.S. Congress. Since 1994, VAWA has provided federal support to states, and local communities to fund services for victims, improve law enforcement and prosecution, and provide training and education for prevention.
But ending sexual and domestic violence is not a short term project. It is work that will stretch across generations. Our realistic goal is to make victimization due to sexual and domestic violence rare and unusual occurrences --- like measles. We are working towards the day when mothers no longer have to tell their daughters the story of “what happened to me when I was your age.”
See if your Senators have signed on to the Reauthorization of VAWA; go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php and type in, S.1925 in the bill number search box and click on co-sponsors. If your Senators are not listed, urge them to sign on.
The time is now to reach out to Congress and support VAWA through letters, online media, and messages that highlight the programs and issues important to you! If you have questions or want to report back about your efforts or results, please email ReauthorizeVAWA@gmail.com.
Help get this done in 2012. We cannot afford to lose these resources committed to ending violence against women.
Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
FaithTrust Institute
www.faithtrustinstitute.org
