Violence Against Women Act

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Stand Up.

Take Action.

The Time Is Now.

First enacted more than a decade ago, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has paid for training for police and prosecutors, and funded shelters and other services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. But funding for these programs is now at risk.

Congress is scheduled to adjourn December 16th and VAWA, which expired September 30th, has yet to be reauthorized. The legislation has passed in both the House and the Senate, but is now stalled as the two houses try to resolve a few remaining differences in their respective bills.

There is still time for Congress to work together on one bill and pass it into law – reauthorizing legislation that is needed to support programs that provide critical funding to organizations and services working to protect victims of violence everyday.

It is critical that TODAY, you take the time to send letters to your Members of Congress pressuring them to pass this legislation before Congress adjourns for the year. We also hope you’ll pass this email on to your friends, family and colleagues and ask them to do the same. The more letters that inundate Congressional offices, the more likely it is that VAWA will be passed before Congress adjourns.

Tell Congress that before they go home for the holidays, it is their responsibility to reauthorize funding for programs throughout America that work to make sure every home is safe this holiday season.

Click on www.participate.net/standup/vawa to TAKE ACTION!

Forward this email to your friends!

Stand Up is a campaign to end sexual harassment and domestic violence, inspired by the film North Country.

Thanks for participating,

Your Friends at www.Participate.net

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is about power and control and can manifest itself in many ways. Batterers want to control their domestic partners and will use an array of power plays to accomplish this end.

Here are some ways that domestic violence plays out:

PHYSICAL ABUSE

Hitting, slapping, punching, pushing, strangling, pulling Hair, grabbing, kicking, and using weapons.

THREATS

Making and/or carrying out threats to do something to harm the victim. Threatening to leave her, to commit suicide, to report partner to welfare, making the person drop charges, and making someone do illegal acts.

COERCION

Making the victim feel guilty, pushing the victim into decisions, sulking, manipulating children and other family members, always insisting on being right, making up impossible "rules" and punishing the victim for breaking them.

VERBAL ABUSE

Constant criticism, making humiliating remarks, not responding to what the victim is saying, mocking, name calling, yelling swearing, interrupting, changing the subject.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Forcing sex on an unwilling partner, demanding sexual acts that the victim does not want to perform, degrading treatment.

ISOLATION

Making it hard for the victim to see friends and relatives, monitoring phone calls, reading mail (e-mail), controlling where the victim goes, taking the victim's car keys.

HARASSMENT

Following or stalking, embarrassing the victim in public, constantly checking up on the victim, refusing to leave when asked.