Dateline: 5/23/00

We now have evidence that seems to indicate that the programs funded under the 1994 Violence Against Women Act are working. A new report by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that total intimate partner violence (current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend) against women declined by about 21 percent. This does not mean the VAWA's work is done: Women are still far more likely to be victimized by an intimate partner than men are.

[Note: last week's Supreme Court ruling only threw out a small part of the VAWA - the section that allowed victims to sue their attackers in federal court. The sections of the VAWA that funded domestic violence programs, shelters, and the national hotline are still intact.]

The numbers in the report tell a mixed story: An estimated 876,340 violent victimizations against women by intimate partners occurred during 1998, down from 1.1 million in 1993. But men victimized by intimate partners, while significantly lower, remained fairly steady over the period - in both 1993 and 1998 men were the victims of about 160,000 violent crimes by an intimate partner. And, homicide rates fell far less than the rate of overall domestic violence: Between 1976 and 1998 the number of male victims of intimate partner murder fell an average 4 percent per year, and the number of female victims fell only an average 1 percent.

Among the other findings in the report: On average, each year from 1993-1998, 22 percent of all female victims of violence in the United States were attacked by an intimate partner, compared to 3 percent of all male violence victims. During 1998 women were the victims of intimate partner violence about five times more often than males. Perhaps one of the most chilling statistics: In a comparison between 1976 and 1998, intimate partner murders were down significantly, from 3000 to 1830. But percentage of female victims went from 50 percent in 1976 to 72 percent in 1998.

Clearly, the Violence Against Women Act has had some effect in increasing awareness and reporting of domestic violence. But there is still far more of it than a civilized society should have. The 1994 Violence Against Women Act expires at the end of this fiscal year, and a number of programs funded under that act are running out of money already. Efforts to bring the bills reauthorizing funds for the VAWA have been stalled in the Senate, but there is new hope for action on this issue soon, according to the National Organization for Women. Senate sponsors of H.R. 3244, the Trafficking Victims' Protection Act, Sens. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Sam Brownback (R-KS), are hoping to amend the House-approved anti-trafficking bill to include reauthorization for the VAWA, and move it quickly to the floor, perhaps as early as next week. (NOW has an Action Alert on this issue that provides a "Take Action" link for emailing your Senators directly from the page.)

My personal opinion:

I would urge all women and men concerned about the level of domestic violence in this country to make their voices heard in the halls of Congress. Whether the reauthorization of funding for VAWA programs happens with this action, or by some future action, it clearly is necessary. Many people complain about taxes spent for government programs that "don't work." Well, we have found a government program that works. Let's not let it die for lack of political will.

Karen

Sources & Resources

Articles

Bureau of Justice Statistics Press Release
Press release from D.O.J announcing the special report "Intimate Partner Violence" written by BJS statisticians Callie Marie Rennison and Sarah Welchans.

Domestic Violence Drops Nationwide, Feds Say
APBnews.com reports that experts attribute the drop to increased awareness surrounding domestic abuse and some consider the programs established under the VAWA to be a contributing factor.

Domestic Violence in Developing Regions
Violence against woman goes beyond cultural, economic, political and religious boundaries, says Cecil Marie Cancel, Guide to Women's Issues in the 3rd World.

Domestic Violence in Lesbian Relationships
While there are many factors involved in a domestic violence victim's inability to leave a battering relationship, lesbian victims face additional difficulties.

Research - Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence
More information and resources from your Guide.

Domestic Violence in Developing Regions
Women's Issues in the 3rd World Guide Cecil Marie Cancel provides links to international organizations and resources in developing regions.

Domestic Violence Issues
Links to information and resources on the legal aspects of domestic violence from About.com Law Guide Paul Reed

Intimate Partner Violence
This abstract of the D.O.J. Bureau of Justice Statistics report provides links to versions of the report in Acrobat, plain text, and a zipped spreadsheet.

Online Domestic Violence Survival Kit
An extensive online survival kit that takes you through each step for safely leaving and staying out of a domestic violence situation.

Domestic Violence Survivors
Abuse/Incest Support Guide Nancy Burnett provides extensive links to shelters and support resources for survivors of domestic violence.

Lesbian Health Issues: Domestic Violence
Lesbian Life Guide Therese Jansen provides links to resources and more information on domestic violence in lesbian relationships.

U.S. DOJ Violence Against Women Office
An Office of the Department of Justice. Includes information on Federal laws and resources, a list of State coalitions and publications.

Violence Against Women Act
Indexed text of the act from U.S. Department of Justice.

Research: Human Trafficking

Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation
An extensive resource compiled from media, non-governmental organization and government reports, from the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.

Sex Trafficking
Women's Issues - 3rd World Guide Cecil Marie Cancel's extensive list of resource and information links.

Trafficking in Women and Girls
A fact sheet on the problem and the U.S. initiatives to combat it, for the U.S. State Department.

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