VAWnet News Blog

“The Avon Foundation launched Speak Out Against Domestic Violence in 2004 to support domestic violence awareness, education and prevention programs, as well as direct services for victims and their families. Through the end of 2013 in the United States, the Avon Foundation will have donated more than $38 million to the domestic violence cause.

“During the two week government shutdown OVW heard from grantees about the dire financial circumstances many programs faced. In communities across the country domestic violence services providers, shelters, and health care clinics were forced to shorten business hours, and in some cases furlough employees.

“A new national study released on Oct. 22 reveals that although 44% of women experience domestic violence, 76% say they have never been asked about domestic violence in a medical exam.”

The Violence Against Women Act, our nation’s response to intimate partner violence, was recently passed with explicit inclusion of LGBT survivors of violence and implementation began October 1st.

“‘Males have the added burden of facing a society that doesn’t believe rape can happen to them … at all,’ says psychotherapist Elizabeth Donovan.” Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/09/living/chris-brown-female-on-male-rape/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11

“Nine percent of youth reported committing some sort of sexual violence, researchers found. That included kissing or touching someone while knowing the person didn’t want them to or forcing someone to have sex.”