Bainbridge Island, WA In Support of the Violence Against Women Act

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 10/12/05
Source File: http://www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us/documents/RES_2005-35_Approved_101305.pdf
Text:
RESOLUTION NO 2005-35
A RESOLUTION expressing support for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005
WHEREAS, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994, and reauthorized
VAWA in 2000; and
WHEREAS, violence against women directly affects at least one in four women across the nation; and
WHEREAS, almost 70 of domestic violence victims are still without legal representation despite the
passage of VAWA; and
WHEREAS, minors under the age of eighteen account for sixty seven percent of all sexual assault
victimizations reported to law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, over eight million children in the United States witness domestic violence each year; and
WHEREAS, the Bainbridge Island Police Department received over 170 domestic violence calls in 2004;
and
WHEREAS, VAWA was passed to address the complex problem of domestic violence and has had a
remarkable impact on women, children and men across the nation; and
WHEREAS, VAWA has employed a multi disciplinary approach involving coordinated efforts between
law enforcement, prosecutors, nonprofits, courts, health care providers, child protective services and service providers; and
WHEREAS, from 1995 to the present, Congress has appropriated almost 3 8 billion dollars to the various
programs created by VAWA; and
WHEREAS, since the enactment of VAWA, rates of domestic violence incidents have dropped by almost
50; and
WHEREAS, incidents of rape are down by 60 since the passage of VAWA; and
WHEREAS, the number of women killed by an abusive husband or boyfriend has declined by 22%; and
WHEREAS, more than one million women have obtained domestic violence protective orders after the
passage of VAWA; and
WHEREAS, VAWA established new criminal penalties including developing the first federal offense for
interstate domestic violence and stalking and doubled federal penalties for repeat sex offenders; and
WHEREAS, VAWA required that states and tribes fully enforce restraining orders issued by other states or tribes; and
WHEREAS, more than 16,000 calls each month are placed to the National Hotline on Domestic Violence,
created by VAWA; and
WHEREAS, the provision of STOP grants through VAWA serve to save money for state and tribal
governments in the long run by reducing incidents of domestic violence and thereby avoiding other costs associated with domestic violence incidents, such as medical and legal costs; and
WHEREAS, VAWA has led to an increased public awareness about domestic violence, distributing
information to local communities; and
WHEREAS, the reauthorization in 2000 strengthened the initial legislation by providing grants for legal assistance, transitional housing costs, protection for older victims and those with disabilities, supervised visitation for children who have witnessed domestic violence and added protections for immigrant women victimized by domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, VAWA has expanded and strengthened the ability of state, local and tribal governments to respond to and prevent domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, there may be efforts in Congress to decrease VAWA funding and reduce the amount that will
be appropriated to combat domestic violence.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Bainbridge Island encourages Congress to
authorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2005; and that Congress increases the programming for prevention for the state, local and tribal governments; and that Congress provides increased appropriations to aid children and youth who are victims and witnesses of domestic violence
Category:City Governments
Category:Resolutions
Category:Washington
Category:Women and Gender