The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the landmark piece of legislation that aims to prevent and end violence against women, is up for reauthorization! The bipartisan Senate bill, sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) passed the Senate on April 26 by a vote of 68-31. Currently, a bill is pending before… Continue Reading Update: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), H.R. 4970
by Gloria Lau Chief Executive Officer, YWCA USA As an organization dedicated to improving the lives of all women and as the largest provider of battered women’s shelters and domestic violence services in the U.S., the YWCA is deeply disheartened by the increasing politicization of women’s health and safety by our elected officials. As the… Continue Reading Why is the U.S. Senate Playing Politics with Violence Against Women?
Fifteen out of 16 rapists never spend a day in jail. Undetected repeat offenders commit 91% of all rapes. Yet across the nation, hundreds of thousands of rape evidence kits remain unprocessed. These unprocessed rape kits are justice denied for the thousands of women who are raped in the U.S. each year — and the… Continue Reading YWCA to Host May 12 Live Online Event on Rape Kit Backlog and VAWA
by Rhonda Bishop YWCA USA Advocacy Associate As 2010 graduates are approaching their first full year out of undergrad, many have settled into post-undergrad careers all over the country—but there is one student whose vibrant potential was silenced last year. This week marks the one-year anniversary of University of Virginia lacrosse athlete Yeardley Love’s murder.… Continue Reading “One” Love: Yeardley Love Murder Sheds Light on Campus Domestic Violence