VAWA FOUNDATIONS ARE FLAWED AND THE LAW IS DESPERATE FOR AN OVERHAUL
Congress Should Fight For a More Accountable and Effective Program
Villegas: " In its current form, VAWA’s narrow focus ignores many of the proven causes of violence, is subject to waste, fraud, and abuse, and — in some cases — is harmful to the very victims it was intended to help.”
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Tomorrow, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 47, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Passing by a vote of 85-8 earlier this week, the Senate moved VAWA forward to put it into debate. But has this domestic violence program successfully delivered on its promises to women? Independent Women's Forum visiting fellow Christina Villegas released the following statement:
Although the Violence Against Women Act’s goal to protect women from domestic and sexual abuse is certainly laudable, its foundations are flawed and the law is in desperate need of reform.
In its current form, VAWA’s narrow focus ignores many of the proven causes of violence, is subject to waste, fraud, and abuse, and — in some cases — is harmful to the very victims it was intended to help. For example, states with mandatory arrest policies under VAWA have seen a 60 percent increase in intimate partner homicides.
Therefore, rather than rubberstamping this politically attractive law, members of Congress should fight for more accountable and effective programs and should reform the law to serve all victims of abuse regardless of gender, sexual-orientation, or other group status.
About Christina Villegas
Christina Villegas is a visiting fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF). She holds a Master Degree in Politics and is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Institute for Philosophic Studies at the University of Dallas, where she was an Earhart Fellow.
Christina is currently writing her dissertation on the theoretical foundations and legislative history of the Violence Against Women Act and teaching as an adjunct professor at California State University, San Bernardino. She has taught courses on a variety of topics including American Political Thought, Congress, Political Parties, and the Presidency and has presented her research at Political Science Conferences across the nation.
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Independent Women's Forum is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) research and educational institution dedicated to expanding the conservative coalition, both by increasing the number of women who understand and value the benefits of limited government, personal liberty, and free markets, and by countering those who seek to ever expand government in the name of protecting women.