100+ Organizations Demand Sweeping Changes to Violence Against Women Act

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Stewart

Telephone: 513-479-3335

100+ Organizations Demand Sweeping Changes to Violence Against Women Act

WASHINGTON / June 23, 2021 – One-hundred and two organizations, representing both liberal and conservative perspectives, are calling for large-scale changes to the upcoming reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

For example, 41 groups have expressed abiding concerns about the need for VAWA to be responsive to victims’ wishes; to direct resources to persons in greatest need; to promote family preservation; to assure limited government; to safeguard due process; and to make the legislative drafting process open and transparent (1).

Other organizations are demanding reforms in these three areas:

End over-criminalization
Stop false allegations
Provide services to male victims

End Over-Criminalization

Forty-six state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions have endorsed a “Moment of Truth” document that expresses remorse for the movement’s long-standing focus on “increased policing, prosecution, and imprisonment as the primary solution to gender-based violence.” The Statement calls for a curtailment of mandatory arrest policies (2).

Stop False Allegations

Eight percent of Americans, representing over 20 million persons, report they have been wrongfully accused of domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse (3). VAWA’s broad and vague definitions and weak due process protections are seen by a number of organizations as major causes of these false allegations.

Provide Services to Male Victims

Even though more men than women report being victims of domestic violence each year (4), the most recent Biennial Report to Congress documents large sex disparities in the provision of victim services. For example, recipients of VAWA’s Legal Assistance to Victims program are 6% male and 94% female (5).

African-Americans for VAWA Reform is demanding that the VAWA reauthorization make domestic violence laws sex-inclusive; assure culturally-sensitive laws; respect due process; stop false allegations; curb wrongful prosecutions; and assure the accountability of funds.

Other entities have expressed reservations about specific VAWA provisions, such as policies that allow foreign nationals to receive preferential treatment from immigration authorities by claiming to be a victim of domestic violence, without providing any evidence or corroboration.

All told, 102 organizations that identify as liberal and conservative are demanding sweeping changes to the Violence Against Women Act. A complete listing of the names of these groups and links to their list of demands are available online (6).

The Coalition to End Domestic Violence urges Congress to pause current deliberations on the VAWA reauthorization until the concerns of these 102 groups can be fully analyzed.

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