VAWnet News Blog

“One day I was a victim, when a group of men attacked my body, soul and life. But today, I am a survivor, and in my face you need to see the faces of the millions of women around the world who have suffered the same as I have,” she said at the launch of what is believed to be the first global network for women who have experienced rape and gender violence in conflict.

“At a London conference Friday on ending sexual violence in conflict, Secretary of State John F. Kerry plans to call for five concrete steps to end a weapon of war so common it has its own catchphrase: rape, pillage and plunder.”

“Even with the laws now passed, legal loopholes remain and the wait for justice for Native women continues, in part because VAWA, the newer of the two laws, won’t take effect until next year on most reservations, including the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Even then, tribes must have implemented a series of steps that many might not already have in place and could pose large legal costs.”

“As with many women who are killed in domestic violence homicides, Laura’s death was foreshadowed by a documented trail of warning signs. But in this small town in rural Arkansas, those red flags went unheeded. Despite Acuna-Sanchez’s history of brutal attacks and repeated violations of his bail conditions, the justice system failed to keep him away from the woman he vowed to kill.”

“Every year on June 15, communities around the world come together on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) to promote understanding and increase awareness about the abuse and neglect experienced by millions of older adults each year.

“When a teenage girl gets pregnant, the first question we should be asking is whether she is a sexual assault victim. This is important not only for the intercourse that led to the pregnancy, but also to better understand pregnancies that are not the direct result of a sexual assault.