PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Stewart

Telephone: 513-479-3335

Email: info@EndToDV.org

Violence Against Women Act: CEDV Commends Representatives Pelosi and Nadler for Inclusion of Male Victims

WASHINGTON / March 25, 2021 – Following last Wednesday’s VAWA vote, the Coalition to End Domestic Violence is commending Democratic leaders for emphasizing that the Violence Against Women Act also is intended to assist male victims. In her press release, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi explained that the most recent VAWA bill “prevents intimate partner homicides and expands protections for victims and survivors – whether they are men or women.” (1)

Rep. Jerrold Nadler likewise emphasized, “VAWA, which is not gender-exclusive, addresses the needs of men and women, children, persons with disabilities, homeless persons, and LGBTQ individuals, among others.” (2)

Following passage of VAWA bill H.R. 1620, leading domestic violence organizations were contacted via Twitter to confirm the inclusion mandate for male victims. The responses were uniformly positive:

  • The National Network to End Domestic Violence tweeted back, “VAWA includes victims and survivors of all genders!”
  • The Network for Victim Recovery responded, “Yes! Despite the name, VAWA funds are available for services provided to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, regardless of gender.”
  • Tonya Lovelace of the Women of Color Network answered, “Yes.”

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton likewise tweeted back a “like” response.

Each year there are 4.2 million male victims of domestic violence, compared to 3.5 million female victims, according to the CDC (3). Regarding sexual assault, the CDC has documented nearly identical levels of sexual victimization by sex: 1.270 million women and 1.267 million men were victims of a nonconsensual sexual encounter in the previous 12 months (4).

Despite the large number of male victims, the most recent Biennial Report to Congress documented large disparities in the provision of victim services (5):

  • Legal Assistance: 6% male, 94% female (Page 162)
  • Rural Assistance: 10% male, 90% female (Page 174)
  • Sexual Assault Services: 4% male, 96% female (Page 184)
  • Transitional Housing: 1% male, 99% female (Page 204)
  • Indian Tribal Governments: 5% male, 95% female (Page 222)
  • Tribal Sexual Assault: 14% male, 86% female (Page 237)
  • Services to Underserved Populations: 14% male, 86% female (Page 248)

The Coalition to End Domestic Violence urges local abuse service providers to promptly implement the VAWA inclusion mandate. More information about the VAWA Inclusion Mandate is available online.

Links:

  1. https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/31721-5
  2. https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/03/17/senate-house-biden-violence-against-women-?cid=share_fb
  3. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/2015data-brief508.pdf , Tables 9 and 11
  4. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301946
  5. https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/1292636/download
  6. https://www.saveservices.org/dv/inclusion-vawa/resources