Monday evening, March 8, 2021, Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 (VAWA).
“The introduction of the VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2021 [H.R. 1620] is a welcomed opportunity to address the needs of survivors and communities across the country,” said Farzana Safiullah, CEO of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV). “We are particularly pleased with provisions that confirm Tribal sovereignty to prosecute non-native offenders of sexual assault, child abuse, trafficking and stalking.”
H.R. 1620 makes adjustments to existing provisions that boost violence prevention efforts, enhance and expand services for survivors, invest in culturally-specific organizations, and improve access to justice for survivors. In addition, the legislation includes crucial requirements related to survivor housing and safety, such as protecting survivors from eviction based on the criminal actions of their perpetrators.
Domestic violence affects millions of people in the United States each year. One in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime with a negative impact such as injury, fear, concern for safety and needing services. Women of color are disproportionately impacted by domestic violence. Lifetime prevalence of experiencing contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner is 57% among multi-racial women, 48% among American Indian/Alaska Native women, 45% among non-Hispanic Black women, 37% among non-Hispanic White women, 34% among Hispanic women, and 18% among Asian-Pacific Islander women. (The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010-2012 State Report)
The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence strengthens and transforms efforts to end domestic violence. It assists coalitions, advocates, providers and others by providing comprehensive resources, including statistics, research, position statements, statutes, training curricula, prevention initiatives, program information, and training and technical assistance on the large variety of domestic violence issues. NRCDV is committed to leading boldly in centering and amplifying the voices of traditionally marginalized communities in their work to attain safe and thriving communities for all. www.nrcdv.org
