VAWnet News Blog

“‘This report is historic in that for the first time the federal government is measuring the prevalence of intimate partner and sexual violence experienced by lesbian, gay and bisexual communities and found that the prevalence was similar to, and in some cases higher than, heterosexual communities,’ said Sharon Stapel, Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.

“Victims of sexual assault in Washington, DC, are not getting the effective response they deserve and should expect from the district’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

“A human rights group says police in Washington, D.C. are failing to investigate rapes. The group says about 200 rapes and sexual assaults over three years ending in 2011 were not documented or tracked. Police dispute the claims. The nation’s capital is not the only city with such a problem.”

The article reports, “The death of a student who was gang-raped on a Delhi bus has prompted anguished soul-searching about the place of women in Indian society. The widespread killing of female foetuses and infants is well-documented, but less well-known is the trafficking of girls across the country to make up for the resulting shortages.”

“This month, we rededicate ourselves to stopping one of the greatest human rights abuses of our time. Around the world, millions of men, women, and children are bought, sold, beaten, and abused, locked in compelled service and hidden in darkness. They toil in factories and fields; in brothels and sweatshops; at sea, abroad, and at home.

“NNEDV is deeply disappointed over the failure of the 112th Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Along with our nationwide network of service providers, advocates and national allies, we have worked diligently with Members of Congress to negotiate a strong, bipartisan VAWA that safely and effectively protects all victims.”