CURRENT ADVOCACY ISSUES

Violence Against Women

Violence against women is a crisis of epidemic proportions, affecting women in the United States and around the world. It encompasses domestic violence, sexual assault, rape and other forms of physical, psychological, financial and spiritual abuse.

One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, one in six women has experienced an attempted or completed rape, and one in twelve women will be stalked in her lifetime. Teens and young adults are particularly impacted by intimate partner violence – individuals ages 16-24 experience the highest per capita rate of violence and one in five high school girls reports physical or sexual abuse from a dating partner. Furthermore, an estimated 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence each year.

JWI is committed to working to end violence against women in all of its forms, with particular concern for victims of domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a human rights violation that frequently involves beatings, torture, false imprisonment, psychological abuses including threats to harm or kill the victim and/or her children and many other crimes.

The case of Jessica Gonzales v. United States, currently before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, involves a domestic violence victim whose three children were killed after police refused to enforce a restraining order against her estranged husband. Ms. Gonzales’s (now Jessica Lenehan) petition to the Inter-American Commission alleged that the United States is responsible for human rights violations committed against her and her children. This case puts domestic violence in the proper framework of a human rights violation that is worthy of attention and appropriate remedies under the law.

Learn more about domestic violence

• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a landmark piece of legislation that seeks to improve criminal justice and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in the U.S.

VAWA was first passed in 1994 and reauthorized in 2000, adding important services for Native American, immigrant, rural, disabled, and older victims.  VAWA was again reauthorized in 2005 (signed into law January 5, 2006) extending the legislation for five years and increasing funding by 20 percent to $3.9 billion. JWI was proud to be an active national coalition partner in the reauthorization process.

In 2007, JWI convened the Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition to unite the collective energies and visions of the faith communities to work together to promote national domestic violence legislation to protect women and children. Our coalition works to ensure that VAWA is fully funded by: in February 2008 our the coalition hosted a Capitol Hill Briefing to advocate for full funding of VAWA; lobbying members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees; authoring several appropriation letters and supporting critical amendments during the appropriation phases – efforts that were featured in Jewish Woman magazine, submitting testimony on domestic violence to the DNC and RNC for their 2008 Platforms, and testifying before the DNC National Platform Committee in Cleveland, Ohio in August 2008, to advocate in part for full funding of VAWA and other supportive legislation for victims and their children.

In FY09, VAWA was increased in the House from $400 million to $435 million.  In the Senate, VAWA was increased from $400 million to $415 million.  These increases are very positive and strong efforts need to continue to ensure that this money is fully appropriated.

Read the Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition’s testimony before the DNC National Platform Committee

Look this legislation up on THOMAS

VAWA Fact Sheet

•International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA)

The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) S.2279 was introduced on October 31, 2007 in the U.S. Senate and is currently under consideration by the Committee on Foreign Relations.  The House version – H.R. 5927 – was introduced on April 30, 2008 and is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. This critical legislation will commit the United States to address violence against women worldwide, including: rape, domestic violence, honor killings, female genital cutting, human trafficking, and economic conditions that can oppress women. JWI has joined a broad based coalition including the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), Women’s Edge Coalition and Amnesty International USA in endorsing this important legislation and has also written supporting letters to Congress.

S. 2279

H.R. 5927

Learn more about I-VAWA

View JWI's action alert and ask your senators to support I-VAWA

•Human Trafficking

The buying and selling of women and children into forced labor or sexual slavery is one of the most profitable businesses worldwide. It is estimated that up to 20,000 people are trafficked in the United States each year and well over 1,000 women are bought and sold into slavery in Israel each year. JWI featured a sub-plenary at its 2005 2nd International Conference on Modern Day Slavery-The Trafficking of Women: A Jewish Problem as well as featuring this issue on a National Alliance call. JWI joined other Jewish coalitions concerned about human trafficking in signing on to a letter to Attorney General Mazuz of Israel asking for greater dedication of resources, training, education and victims services to help abolish human trafficking in Israel and in joining a broad base of coalitions in supporting amendments to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 270). The Act is currently before the Sub- Committee on Health.

Look this legislation up on THOMAS

•The National Domestic Violence Attorney Network Act

Thousands of domestic violence victims in the United States can not afford the legal representation necessary to protect them and their children from further abuse.

The National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act (S. 1515, H.R. 6088) is groundbreaking, bipartisan legislation that will help thousands of battered women receive this critical legal help. The legislation would create a national database of trained volunteer attorneys- in coordination with the American Bar Association – to assist battered women with their protective order, divorce, and custody cases.

In October 2007, JWI spearheaded an online campaign and with the help of our supporters contributed more than 4,000 signatures to the effort. Over the past year, JWI has worked in coalition with other national organizations to continue pushing the bill forward.

Currently, S. 1515 has been placed on the Senate legislative calendar for a vote by the full Senate, and H.R. 6088 will be considered by the full House.

We still need your help!

Please urge your representatives to co-sponsor the National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act, H.R. 6088.

Let’s work together to pass this bill so thousands of battered women and their children can receive lifesaving legal help!

View S. 1515

View H.R. 6088

View JWI’s letter to Senator Biden

View JWI's letter to Senator Specter

•The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), enacted in 1984 as Title lll of the Child Abuse Amendment and reauthorized and amended in 2003 as the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, provides public awareness and prevention of family violence, services for domestic violence victims and their children, and training and resources to local agencies addressing this issue.  FVPSA funds the life-saving services provided by domestic violence programs including: emergency shelters, hotlines, transitional housing, counseling, legal services and many other vital services.

As the success of the Violence Against Women Act programs increase the number of victims who are referred to local programs for emergency services, the demand for FVPSA services has steadily risen. JWI’s Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition has been lobbying Congress to reauthorize FVPSA (due to expire in 2008) and fully fund this legislation so that all victims and their children can receive the lifesaving services they need to stay safe from further abuse.

In FY09, FVPSA was funded at $125 million, a $2.4 million increase over FY08.  While this is very positive news, strong efforts need to continue to ensure that this money is fully appropriated.

•Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) established a fund to provide victims of crime with critical services that help them recover from the physical, emotional and financial consequences of criminal activity. VOCA money comes from fines and other penalties collected from criminal offenders and deposited into the Crime Victims Fund exclusively to support victims services. No taxpayer dollars are needed to maintain a stable funding level for state victim assistance grants. In recent years, caps on the amount of money that can be added to this fund, as well as appropriations bill earmarks that take money out of this fund, have diminished the extent to which victim organizations can reach and support victims of crime. JWI – through its coalition partnerships - has supported efforts to prevent additional cuts to Victim Assistance grants made with VOCA Fund dollars and has lobbied members of the House and Senate and signed on to letters to Congress to increase the VOCA cap.

In FY09, in the House, VOCA Fund received a $60 million increase raising the cap to $650 million.  In the Senate, VOCA Fund received a $45 million increase, raising the cap to 635 million.  While this is encouraging news for victims, we need to ensure that the cap on the fund continues to be increased to meet the needs of victims.

Look this legislation up on THOMAS

VOCA Fact Sheet

Women’s Economic Security

Women’s economic security is essential if women are to thrive in their local communities as well as the global economy. JWI recognizes the critical link between women’s economic security and oppression and is proud to sponsor our Women’s Economic Security Fund to help support women’s continued economic mobility.

•Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act (Growth Act)

Women are a vital part of the global economy and their share of the labor force is increasing all over the world.  Women farmers produce 60-80% of the food in most developing countries, yet tend to work in the lowest paid sectors, have less stable incomes, work longer hours, have less education and training than men and do not enjoy the same economic opportunities as men.

The GROWTH Act (S. 2069/H.R. 2965) is an innovative bill that, if passed, would make the U.S. a leader in reducing poverty and promoting opportunities for women and families around the world through policy initiatives that would help women start and grow their own businesses, help women attain land and property rights, and increase women’s wages and working conditions among other initiatives. JWI is proud to endorse this important legislation. S. 2069 is currently before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and H.R. 2965 is currently before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

View S. 2069 

View H.R. 2965

Reproductive Rights

Public policies supporting women’s reproductive rights ranging from comprehensive sex education, to family planning, emergency contraception to abortion services have been eroding over the last several years. JWI is strongly committed to reproductive choice and is working in partnership with other organizations to ensure that women’s reproductive rights are protected and strengthened.  JWI, in coalition with other national faith based groups, is writing a letter to Barack Obama and John McCain urging them to prioritize women’s reproductive health in their campaigns and administrations.

•Comprehensive Sex Education

Research shows that comprehensive sex education programs are effective in promoting abstinence as well as other protective behaviors, whereas there is no empirical evidence to support that abstinence-only programs –which currently receive over $1.5 billion dollars in federal money - actually delay the onset of sexual activity among teens. Currently, no federal dollars are allocated for comprehensive sex education despite studies that indicate this type of education would be more effective.  Strong advocacy on this issue needs to be undertaken so our youth are educated and knowledgeable about their sexuality and reproductive health. 

JWI strongly believes that comprehensive sex education programs are critical to ensure that teens are healthy and safe. JWI joined other national and faith based organizations to endorse the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act (S. 972/H.R. 1653) to support responsible, comprehensive and medically accurate sex education in public schools and lobby on this important issue. S. 972 is currently before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and H.R. 1653 is currently before the Subcommittee on Health.

S. 972

H.R. 1653

•Family Planning

Family planning reduces maternal deaths, deaths of infants and children, unintended pregnancies, improves the health of mothers, and helps prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Ultimately family planning can help conserve vital natural resources and minimize food insecurity.

JWI was a proud coalition partner co-sponsoring a Capitol Hill briefing in March 2007 for International Women’s Day championing The Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act of 2007 H.R. 1225 supporting family planning measures worldwide. The Bill is currently before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Look this legislation up on THOMAS

•Emergency Contraception

Plan B Emergency contraception, or emergency birth control, is used to prevent a woman from getting pregnant after she has had unprotected sex.  Plan B is a safe and effective way to ensure against pregnancy, if taken as prescribed and would succeed in reducing the number of abortions and assisting rape victims. JWI has historically advocated protecting a woman’s reproductive choice and, in the case of Plan B, JWI worked in coalition with the National Coalition of Jewish Women and other faith-based groups to ensure the passage of this important act. JWI also mobilized people through its Action Alert to support this cause. On August 24, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the over-the-counter pharmacy sales of Plan B Emergency Contraception (EC) for women 18 years and older. 

•Abortion

The United States Supreme Court in 2007 – in upholding the federal abortion ban in Gonzales v. Carhart and Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood - delivered one of the largest blows to date to abortion rights.  Following this landmark decision, JWI supported the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) of 2007 (S. 1173) to protect women’s reproductive rights by preventing government interference with a woman choosing to bear a child or terminate a pregnancy. The Bill is before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Look this legislation up on THOMAS

• Anti-Genocide and Hate Crimes
There are many regions around the world that target that are inundated with horrific demonstrations of violence targeted at people based on their ethnicity, culture, religion, and gender. JWI is committed to supporting a world free from genocide, hate crimes, and other human rights injustices.

•Save Darfur

Save Darfur is an international human rights campaign to bring awareness and resources to the genocide occurring in Darfur, Sudan. The 2.5 million people driven from their homes face catastrophic human, social, and economic challenges including starvation, disease, torture, rape, and murder. JWI joined forces with other faith based groups to call attention to this international genocide issue and participated in a human rights rally as well as several sign on letters denouncing human rights abuses, specifically violence against women.

PAST ADVOCACY ISSUES

Violence Against Women

•The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA) seeks to safeguard the rights of foreign born women who are brought to the United States as “mail order brides” by mandating, among other things, that the women be informed about the marital and criminal pasts of their fiancés.  JWI joined national coalition efforts to lobby for the passage of IMBRA. IMBRA, as incorporated into the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (2005) was signed into law on January 5, 2006.

Look this legislation up on THOMAS

Reproductive Choice

•March for Women’s Lives: This March in Washington, DC, in 2003, was an opportunity for abortion rights activists to join together in continued support to safeguard a woman’s reproductive choice.  JWI proudly marched along with many of its participating national chapter members at this important event.   

Gun Violence

•Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) was a provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a federal law that was created to stop the sale of semi-automatic weapons manufactured after the ban was enacted.  President Clinton signed the ban into law on September 13, 1994 and it was set to expire on September 13, 2004. JWI signed on to a Roll Call Advertisement organized by the Violence Policy Center, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Consumer Federation of America to renew and strengthen the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Despite proposed bills to extend the ban in the House and Senate in the last Congress, no action was taken in committees and the extension of the ban never became law despite increased national attention to the dangers of gun violence.

Look this legislation up on THOMAS

Hate Crimes Legislation

•The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2005 (LLEEA) S. 1145 sought to adequately address the significant problems of hate crimes, including hate crimes based on disability, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation but unfortunately did not pass.

Get (Jewish Divorce)
 
•Maryland Get Bill: In 2007, JWI supported the passage of the Maryland Get Bill which would have permitted the civil court divorce system to assist women in obtaining a religious divorce. The Maryland Bill was based on the New York Get Bill which provides that prior to a civil divorce both parties will take all steps possible to remove any barriers to remarriage-including a get. Unfortunately, the Maryland Get Bill failed to pass by a narrow margin and NewYork remains the only state with this type of legislation. Learn more about gets.

View JWI’s letter in support of the Get Bill.