It’s time to STOP dehumanizing, ineffective VAWA programs!
Since 1994, programs and policies created by the Violence Against Women Act have destroyed countless families and left victims of domestic violence with no practical help, and no possibility of future advances in the field.
VAWA programs are unique among all helping programs as they have not changed in any way in 50 years, yet society continues to evolve.
Because of VAWA, victims of domestic violence and partner abuse literally have nowhere to turn in an emergency, and allowing these programs to continue will ensure they never will.
The VAWA concept of partner abuse is only about advancing a political agenda and not at all about seeking real-world solutions for the families and people affected.
All of this has come at a cost of billions of dollars per year, with no demonstrable return on this investment. It is time to STOP funding a Marxist political agenda and START helping taxpayers get the help they are paying for.
The next VAWA is currently being drafted by the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence in preparation for introduction and passage in 2011.
For the first time since its inception, Congress is allowing opposing viewpoints on this issue to be aired at the first hearing to be held today.
“The Increased Importance of the Violence Against Women Act in a Time of Economic Crisis”
Scheduled to speak is Richard Gelles, PhD. who is a Dean at the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a leading researcher in the filed of partner abuse from a non-political perspective. His take on the most popular and enduring myths surrounding the issue is here.
You can be part of this landmark event!
Even though you can’t be there in person, you CAN submit testimony to the Committee. It’s simple…just write a concise, polite letter about your experiences with VAWA, and email to Senators Leahy (Democrat of Vermont) and Sessions (Republican of Alabama). It is preferable that your letter not be longer than one page long.
Just fill in the missing places in the draft letter below, and email it to:
Anya McMurray (Leahy’s staffer): Anya_McMurray-at-judiciary-dem.senate.gov
Bradley Hayes (Sessions’ staffer): Bradley_Hayes-at-judiciary-rep.senate.gov
Send a copy of the letter to: news-at-saveservices.org . The deadline to receive your letter is this coming Tuesday, May 11!
DRAFT LETTER
RE: Violence Against Women Act
Honorable Patrick Leahy
Honorable Jeff Sessions
Senate Judiciary Committee
Dear Senators Leahy and Sessions:
I am writing regarding the May 5, 2010 Judiciary Committee hearing on the Violence Against Women Act.
[POLITELY, FACTUALLY, AND CONCISELY DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS HOW TO REFORM VAWA.]
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER]
Thirty five years ago, I was the victim of domestic abuse by my husband after sexual abuse by my father in law. I had no one to tell, no where to go because I was afraid to tell my parents. Now, I work with a woman’s shelter so this does not happen to others and the money, training and programs that comes from VAWA is invaluable. Tell me what you want to do instead……..
I, too, am a retired police detective who investigated domestic violence and sexual assault complaints. After reading what you have posted, I am very concerned about where you are obtaining your facts from. The FBI has instituted the NIBRS as a response to the limited UCR of the past. NIBRS collects data which all crimes that occur out of one incident, not simply the most serious crime and the new reporting allows for causal connections to be made through relationships, etc. Perhaps Senators Leahy and Sessions could enlighten themselves with this more specific and concise data. To make the sweeping generalization that in the last 50 years little has been accomplished is quite disturbing. Women’s shelters, programs and advocacy has grown exponentially since the 60’s.
Explain the UVA Lacrosse murder to me and others? Clearly, this incident and those like it scream the need for more programs educating women and men for sake of the argument about violence and how far it can go.
I have been working with victims of interpersonal violence for nearly 21 years now and have spent many observing the direct benefit that victims are afforded with the continuous renewal or the VAWA act.
After reviewing this article, I am confused to the source of data and information that you put forward:
1.” VAWA programs are unique among all helping programs as they have not changed in any way in 50 years, yet society continues to evolve.”
One of the first domestic violence shelters opened in the mid 70’s in PA, and the oldest Coalition (again, in PA) is only 34 years old. Any program I have witnessed personally has worked proactively to identify unmet victim need then has worked tirelessly to advocate for the resources needed to create proactive and meaningful programs, and worked to change infrastructure that is a barrier to victims.
2. “Because of VAWA, victims of domestic violence and partner abuse literally have nowhere to turn in an emergency, and allowing these programs to continue will ensure they never will. “
In the program in which I work, VAWA funds ensure a 24 live hotline operates, that trained staff are there to provide individuals victimized by partner abuse, including men, women, children, and LQBTIQA victims find resources, safety planning, and shelter. I am confused as to how you have ascertained that victims have nowhere to turn?
3. “The VAWA concept of partner abuse is only about advancing a political agenda and not at all about seeking real-world solutions for the families and people affected.”
The use of the term ‘political agenda’ is interesting. I would think that anyone, regardless of political leaning or level of position in local, state, nationwide or worldwide government would want domestic violence to end. Aren’t most if not all causes ‘political agendas’ … but not in the insinuating manner that gives the impression of something darker and insidious. Please provide objective, quantifiable data to support your assertions.
It appears that New Perspectives on Partner Abuse is more interested in propagating incorrect and deliberately erroneous information rather than working to end domestic violence/interpersonal violence. Misinformation of this nature is contributing to the problem, and not being a part of the solution.
In closing, it is disturbing to hear an experience such as Sean Maloney’s. We know that with any crime, the rate of false report is the same … right around 2%. Any system can be utilized in a manner other than intended, but pointing to an possible exception and heralding it as the rule is foolhardy at best, and does not constitute sufficient evidence that VAWA is horribly flawed.
Working for peace in our homes, in our communities, and in our world.
Since it is not humanly possible to reproduce the entire body of my work to accompany each blog post, I suggest those who want to do their homework start at this link:
http://partnerabuse.homestead.com/index.html
TW Schuett
I have been working with victims of domestic and sexual violence for several years now and have spent many years seeing these victims benefit from the continuous renewal or the VAWA act. There seems to be a serious absence of facts in your story. You make accusations but I don’t see anything to back up your claims. In addition, to the NYC police officer: I am terribly sorry that someone may have used the law against you in a way that it was not intended. Unfortunately, there are lots of people out there that use laws in ways they were never intended (people constantly use Child Protective Service Law in ways to punish and hurt people). However, as in the case of CPSL, VAWA helps many more people than it hurts.
I am very saddened to see such a wonderful law attacked and for reasons I’m still not very clear on.
Wishing for future peace in our homes, community and world!
Its interesting to me that no one claims authorship of the article. That is most likely no accident as this “article” is rather devoid of fact and is embarrassing in it’s ignorance regarding the decades of positive impact that VAWA has had saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of women and children.It is a pathetic attempt at political spin. It is devoid of fact, inflammatory and assumes the reader is foolish enough to believe that, VAWA, one of the finest pieces of truly effective legislation of our lifetime, has no value. Shame on you partnerabuse.com for proliferating such a poor piece. Domestic violence is a serious issue and make no mistake, VAWA saves lives. You should be embarrassed that your comments solicited and encouraged the previous comment. that what happens when you are not careful and have no regard for the truth. Its a dangerous slope you are on with this piece. You should withdraw it from your website.
i am not understanding several of your points:
1. VAWA programs are unique among all helping programs as they have not changed in any way in 50 years, yet society continues to evolve. ?? to my knowledge, there are hardly any anti-violence against women programs that are over 40, and it would be really hepful if you could provide some actual data to back this up.
2. Because of VAWA, victims of domestic violence and partner abuse literally have nowhere to turn in an emergency, and allowing these programs to continue will ensure they never will. ?? it has been my understanding that the VAWA helps those victimized by partner abuse, including men, women, children, and lgbt victims. How have you come to this conclusion?
3. The VAWA concept of partner abuse is only about advancing a political agenda and not at all about seeking real-world solutions for the families and people affected. ?? Holy Cow! this is a really powerful allegation and I would really, really like to see this evidence. are you referring to an agenda of working to end violence against women and children? if so, then the global initiatives to do the same, including those put in place by the United Nations, must have some type of subliminal message that only you can see!
I am disappointed that New Perspectives on Parter Abuse is pushing hyperbole rather than working to end such a serious problem, a problem of such seriousness that it destroys families all over the world.
It is very sad to read a story like Sean Maloney’s. there are all sorts of misuse of resources resulting in such unnecessary pain and suffering, and his story does not constitute sufficient evidence that the VAWA has it all wrong.
I wish for peace in the home, community and the world.
I am a retired NYPD officer with no domestic abuse ever with my wife, she was living for 5 yrs w/ our 2 kids in CO. (18TH WEALHEST ZIP CODE 80127)WAITING FOR ME TO RETIRE. Five months into my retirement I found documents that my wife can never have me petition for her citizenship because she was ordered deported before I married her( because she was caught in 2 fake marriages I didn’t know about). Then I found documents a bout how to use the vawa petition to get your green card. I decided to separate to sort out who the hell I was married to and to keep everything stable for our 2 young children. Appox. 3 days later she went and persauded my kids school to put in a fraudlent abuse charge.
When I went to court to answer to the temporary restraining order. My wife’s attorney said give her the house and the kids and will drop the order. I said no way that is black mail I’ll take the stand,they then proceeded to try to get a perament order of protection.
The judge threw it out as not creditable. I have spent over 100k and my home that I haven’t been in over 1.5 years will be going in to foreclosure as my bankrupcy has still not been approved because of the complication of explaining how I have had to pay to overcome every type of road block to find out her actual immigration status. She has a deportation order in NYC and she has a fraudulently obtained temporary protected status work visa because she is from Hondoras. IAM NOT A VICTIM OF DIVORCE I AM A VICTIM OF A CRIME BY AN ILLEGAL ALIEN THAT WILL DO ANYTHING TO COVER HER ASS AND FRAUDULENT BEHAVIOR BEFORE SHE DECIEVED ME INTO MARRYING HER AND BEING INVOLVED WITH HER NOT KNOWING SHE COULD NEVER GET CITIZENSHIP IF WE HAD CHILDREN!!! Who would connect them self to such a person in a sexual relationship or a marriage. PLEASE PASS ON MY STORY THANKYOU.