Take Action: Tell Members of Congress to Reauthorize VAWA Now

posted on: Jan 30, 2013

Next week the US Senate will vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) urges you to take action and support this important legislation. Sadly, the last Congress did not reauthroize this vital piece of legislation; however, the bill has been introduced for reauthorization by Senator Harry Reid of Nevada in the 113th Congress of the United States this month. ADC commends Senator Reid and the 113th Congress for reintroducing this extremely important bill.

VAWA is an integral piece of legislation for all— including women of Arab descent. Since its original passage, it has dramatically enhanced the response to violence against both women and men. As a result of VAWA, victims of domestic violence have increased their reporting to the police, and the rate of non-fatal intimate partner violence against women has decreased by 64%. VAWA provides for a coordinated community approach to improve collaboration between law enforcement and victim services providers so the needs of victims are better met.

VAWA has unquestionably improved the national response to these terrible crimes. Arabs in America are directly impacted by domestic violence and the repercussions would be devastating should this protecting legislation fail to be reauthorized.

ADC encourages you to take action immediately by contacting your senator and encouraging them to sponsor and vote for VAWA.