Violance Against Women Act Analysis
The Violance Against Women Act
The purpose of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is to end with the violence against women in the U.S and to protect women from old notions, laws and social practices that have been to justify this violence. Some of the results and goals of the VAWA were: it changed the criminal justice system, victims of any type of violence got more access to services, new federal crimes related to violence were establish(Violance Against Women, 2013). In addition, VAWA helped preventing violence in America’s families and supported the detection of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
VAWA passed the congress in 1994, then it was improved and reauthorized in 2000 and 2005. Some of these improvements on the law were: increment on protection to immigrant victims, service to children and teenagers, more programs and services for people with disabilities, more prevention programs and information and the creation of more legal assistance …show more content…
programs for victims of violence (10 years of progress, n.d.) . Unfortunately the authorization for the law expired in 2011.
On March, 2013 president Obama signed a bill reauthorizing the law for another 5 years.
There were some controversies related to immigration and identity politics discussed by the Senate (Peralta, 2012). Due to discussion between democrats and republicans regarding what to put or take off the law, the bill is still waiting for approval. Statistics have shown the effectiveness and confirmed the benefits that VAWA brought to society. As an example, the percentage of women who reported violence was greater in 1998 than in 1993 (Violance Against Women, 2013). The access to services that prevents and protects women from violence has helped thousands of women in the U.S who didn’t have this choice before. Immigrant women as well as any other women regardless their race or social class have the same rights to receive protection from violence. In my opinion the decision of the reauthorization of the law has to be out of political interests and differences on political parties
ideas.
We can’t make exceptions for minorities groups, every woman in the U.S is free to decide over her body and to ask for help when she’s experiencing some kind of violence. VAWA has changed states laws, strengthening the ability of states to combat violence. More than 660 laws have been passed by states in the U.S to combat all types of violence. In some states, for example, stalking is a crime (10 years of progress, n.d.). In my opinion based on the fact that VAWA is working, helping thousands of women in the U.S, the law should be reauthorized.
In order for this law to be reauthorized a decision needs to be make, putting aside any political interest and working together (Democrats and Republicans) for a common goal which is the safety and wellness of the citizens.
References
10 years of progress and moving forward. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2013, from http://www.thehotline.org/get-educated/violence-against-women-act-vawa/.
Peralta, E. (2012). Violence Against Women Act Becomes Latest Controversial Measure In House. Retrieved July 22, 2013, from http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/16/152852035/violence-against-women-act-becomes-latest-controversial-measure-in-house
Violance Against Women Act. (2013). Retrieved July 22, 2013, from http://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/governmental_legislative_work/priorities_policy/access_to_legal_services/vawa_home.html
The purpose of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is to end with the violence against women in the U.S and to protect women from old notions, laws and social practices that have been to justify this violence. Some of the results and goals of the VAWA were: it changed the criminal justice system, victims of any type of violence got more access to services, new federal crimes related to violence were establish(Violance Against Women, 2013). In addition, VAWA helped preventing violence in America’s families and supported the detection of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
VAWA passed the congress in 1994, then it was improved and reauthorized in 2000 and 2005. Some of these improvements on the law were: increment on protection to immigrant victims, service to children and teenagers, more programs and services for people with disabilities, more prevention programs and information and the creation of more legal assistance …show more content…
programs for victims of violence (10 years of progress, n.d.) . Unfortunately the authorization for the law expired in 2011.
On March, 2013 president Obama signed a bill reauthorizing the law for another 5 years.
There were some controversies related to immigration and identity politics discussed by the Senate (Peralta, 2012). Due to discussion between democrats and republicans regarding what to put or take off the law, the bill is still waiting for approval. Statistics have shown the effectiveness and confirmed the benefits that VAWA brought to society. As an example, the percentage of women who reported violence was greater in 1998 than in 1993 (Violance Against Women, 2013). The access to services that prevents and protects women from violence has helped thousands of women in the U.S who didn’t have this choice before. Immigrant women as well as any other women regardless their race or social class have the same rights to receive protection from violence. In my opinion the decision of the reauthorization of the law has to be out of political interests and differences on political parties
ideas.
We can’t make exceptions for minorities groups, every woman in the U.S is free to decide over her body and to ask for help when she’s experiencing some kind of violence. VAWA has changed states laws, strengthening the ability of states to combat violence. More than 660 laws have been passed by states in the U.S to combat all types of violence. In some states, for example, stalking is a crime (10 years of progress, n.d.). In my opinion based on the fact that VAWA is working, helping thousands of women in the U.S, the law should be reauthorized.
In order for this law to be reauthorized a decision needs to be make, putting aside any political interest and working together (Democrats and Republicans) for a common goal which is the safety and wellness of the citizens.
References
10 years of progress and moving forward. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2013, from http://www.thehotline.org/get-educated/violence-against-women-act-vawa/.
Peralta, E. (2012). Violence Against Women Act Becomes Latest Controversial Measure In House. Retrieved July 22, 2013, from http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/16/152852035/violence-against-women-act-becomes-latest-controversial-measure-in-house
Violance Against Women Act. (2013). Retrieved July 22, 2013, from http://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/governmental_legislative_work/priorities_policy/access_to_legal_services/vawa_home.html