DW News
January 26, 2017

Women in India are taking up boxing to defend themselves against sexual assault. Official figures suggest a rape takes place in the country every 20 minutes. But in many places, the idea of women boxing remains a taboo.

To watch jaw dropping inspirational 5 minute video click HERE.

—–Original Message—–
From: Nita and Shaunna, UltraViolet <info@weareultraviolet.org>
To: Harriet mohr <womenandviolence@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Jan 20, 2017 10:31 am
Subject: Trump is cutting WHAT?!

Dear Harriet,

Whoa. The Trump administration just announced plans to gut the Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women programs.¹

As soon as he’s sworn in today, President Trump wants to begin cutting funding for hundreds of local rape crisis centers,² the National Domestic Violence Hotline–which has served almost 4 million people³–and sexual assault response training for hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officials.⁴ Since the programs were created, intimate partner violence has decreased 67%, and more people are reporting sexual violence and getting the support they need.⁵ Gutting these programs will literally cost women their lives.

Luckily, Trump can’t do this alone. Congress needs to approve these cuts–if they hear from enough of their constituents, they won’t want to be on record supporting Trump’s dangerous plans, just like we saw during the election. Will you add your name right now?

Even under a supportive administration, we struggled to curb the epidemic of rape and domestic violence in the United States–1 in 5 women have been sexually assaulted,⁶ and 1 in 4 have experienced severe physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner⁷–meaning we need more support, not less.

The Office on Violence Against Women has increased rates of prosecution of sexual violence by funding dedicated law enforcement units and training officers, prosecutors, and judges around the country.⁸ These programs also set up national counseling hotlines, which for millions are often used as the first call for help, and provide legal services for those who can’t afford them.⁹

Trump also wants to gut the Civil Rights Division, which among many important issues enforces Title IX to ensure every person has equal access to pursue an education free from sexual violence.¹⁰ This law is instrumental in tackling campus sexual assault.

We should be strengthening Violence Against Women programs, not gutting them. Will you let your member of congress know you need them to support women and block any budget that includes these cuts?

Thank you!

–Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Holly, Kathy, Onyi, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Shannon, Megan, Libby, Emma, PaKou, and Pilar, the UltraViolet team

Sources:

1. Trump team prepares dramatic cuts, The Hill, January 19, 2017
2. SASP Formula Grant Program Report, Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, accessed January 19, 2017
3. A Year in Review: About the Hotline, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, accessed January 19, 2017
4. STOP Program Report, Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, accessed January 19, 2017
5. Factsheet: The Violence Against Women Act, White House, accessed January 19, 2017
6. Sexual Violence Facts at a Glance, Center for Disease Control, accessed January 19, 2017
7. A Year in Review: Statistics, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, accessed January 19, 2017
8. STOP Program Report, Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, accessed January 19, 2017
9. Factsheet: The Violence Against Women Act, White House, accessed January 19, 2017
10. Educational Opportunities Section, Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, accessed January 19, 2017