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Legislation

Gender-based violence is prevalent in the United States and it often has direct consequences fort survivors’ economic security. When survivors are not economically secure, it hurts their ability to recover, provide for their families, and find safety and independence. The SAFE for Survivors Act will take critical steps to ensure economic security for survivors of gender-based violence because no survivor should have to choose between their safety and their paycheck, job, or ability to support their family.

Kids should not be separated from their families. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Protection of Kids in Detention (PROKID) Act, which would improve and enforce transparency, protection, and accountability for all immigrant children in government custody. The PROKID Act would ensure that the rights afforded to children by the Flores Settlement Agreement, the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), and other relevant statutes and standards are properly enforced.

Every seven minutes a child dies as a result of violence and half of all children globally (1 billion) are victims of violence each year. The Strengthening Efforts to End Violence Against Children Act (SEEVAC) will update and strengthen existing U.S. Government efforts to end violence against children, improve interagency coordination in addressing violence, and promote the use of evidence-based strategies and information gathering capabilities.

The Healthy Families Act (HFA) sets a national paid sick days standard by providing workers in businesses with 15 or more employees to earn up to seven job-protected paid sick days each year. HFA specifies paid sick days can be used by survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking who need to take time off from work to seek medical attention, obtain assistance, seek services, seek relocation or take legal action to address the effects of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking for the employee or a family member.

The FAMILY Act establishes a national paid family and medical leave program. The Act provides workers with up to 12 weeks of partial income when they take time for their own serious health conditions, including pregnancy and childbirth recovery; the serious health condition of a family member; the birth or adoption of a child; to address the effects of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking and/or to make certain arrangements arising from the military deployment of a spouse, child or parent.

The bipartisan RISE from Trauma Act would make a big difference in the lives of families and communities most impacted by trauma. It would invest in the tools necessary for communities to recognize and coordinate services to prevent and address the effects of trauma.

Representatives Klobuchar, Dingell, and Fitzpatrick introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Provisions Closing the Boyfriend Loophole. The evidence is clear: we need to keep firearms out of the hands of those who have a history of domestic violence and stalking. And this lifesaving bill would do just that.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was implemented to help job seekers access job training and education, gain high-quality employment, and receive critical tools and services in order to succeed in the labor market.

WIOA is especially critical for survivors of gender-based violence as it is designed to help workers with high barriers to employment, like survivors, receive the training and education they need to find and maintain high-quality jobs.

One out of every three women worldwide will be abused during her lifetime. Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, a public health epidemic, and a barrier to solving global challenges such as extreme poverty, HIV and AIDS, and violent conflict.

PASSED! On September 13, 1994, Congress passed a groundbreaking law called the Violence Against Women Act. The bill finally put the full force of the federal government into efforts to stop domestic violence and sexual assault and help victims. Since then, it has provided the funds for a national network of shelters and rape crisis centers, services and supports for victims, training and education, and reshaped our criminal justice system. Since its passage, domestic violence against adult women has declined 64 percent.

Action alert coming soon…
Let’s resolve to help create a world without bias, stereotypes and discrimination – a world in which all women are free and equal and all of us can live in peace. There’s never been a more important moment to take a stand. Watch our video of advocates, friends, strangers and community members from all over the world commit to breaking the bias.

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act is the cornerstone of the nation’s efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. First passed in 1974, CAPTA provides grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect, improve how systems respond to it and funds small amounts of training and research on how to reduce maltreatment.

REINTRODUCED. Since its original passage in 1984, FVPSA has served over 1.3 million domestic violence victims and their children during one of the most vulnerable points in their lives. FVPSA provides critical funding that survivors rely on for domestic violence services such as housing, emergency shelter, transportation, childcare, and medical and legal counseling.