Tell Your Senator to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act Now

On the Senate’s and your to-do list this week: Move forward the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.

This critical legislation provides resources and support for women and girls who have survived domestic and sexual violence. VAWA expired in 2011 and needs to be reauthorized so that those programs are updated and continue to receive funding. The bipartisan bill (S. 1925) includes provisions from the Campus SaVE Act that will help students on college campuses who are subject to sexual assault and violence. AAUW members worked hard to ensure that these provisions were included to protect women from the pervasive sexual violence on campuses that continues to hinder equality in education.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will mark up VAWA this Thursday, February 2. AAUW believes that this bill should be supported by all legislators, but even some senators who have supported VAWA in the past have yet to sign on. Use AAUW’s Action Network to ask your senators to co-sponsor and support VAWA today.

AAUW identified VAWA reauthorization — and the inclusion of protections for students on campuses — as a key priority in our 2011–12 Federal Policy Agenda. In addition, in 2011 a coalition of women’s rights organizations, including AAUW, highlighted VAWA in as one of the top 10 historic advances for women’s lives that are now at risk.

The protections afforded by VAWA — and the message its timely and fully supported passage would send — should be a top focus for us all. Let’s work together to show survivors and women everywhere that violence against women will not be tolerated. To learn more about the reauthorization, visit the coalition website.

This post was written by AAUW Political Media Coordinator Elizabeth Owens.