VAWA 2005: New Prevention Initiatives Address the Needs and Fears of Young People and Work to Break the Cycle of Violence

It's incredible to think that more than a decade has passed since the first Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was signed into law in 1994. Since its passage, VAWA has impacted women of all ages and backgrounds, all races and religions and all communities throughout the nation.

VAWA impacts so many women because it allocates vital funding to a variety of programs—everything from research grants and legal assistance to community initiatives and assistance for immigrant families. VAWA's ability to affect change in the past decade proves the legislation's power to combat domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault and in turn help women and children lead healthy and safe lives.

Yet this progress could be halted, or worse reversed, if VAWA is not reauthorized this year. We need to not only renew original programs and services, but also improve and expand its ability to stop violence. In reauthorization, VAWA must adequately address prevention by working with youth and young adults who experience the infiltration of violence into all aspects of their lives—at school, at home and in their communities.

Addressing the role of violence and the need for preventative measures in the lives of youth and young adults is important in order to break the cycle of violence. The sheer number of youth exposed to violence every year is startling.

In 2002 alone, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that 896,000 children in the U.S. experienced child abuse or neglect. These numbers become even more disturbing when taking into account the American Pyschological Association's finding that a child's exposure to their father abusing their mother is the strongest risk factor of passing violent behavior from one generation to the next.

Today, this country unfortunately lacks the services to serve young adults, who are in dire need since girls and women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rates of non-fatal intimate partner violence.

The proposed VAWA 2005 expands its safety net, creating outreach and prevention programs to young people to help break the cycle of violence. VAWA 2005 addresses the pressing needs of children and youth by creating and supporting programs to educate people working with youth and young adults on how to recognize, respond to and provide services to young victims of violence. VAWA 2005 proposes to support programs that work specifically with youth and young adults to empower them to recognize violence in its many forms, and also show them ways to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

Fortunately, models of these programs already exist in communities throughout the nation. Organizations such as Girls Inc.—a non-profit dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold since 1864—help girls and young women feel secure in their bodies and their communities. Girls Inc. creates violence prevention programs tailored to meet the emotional and intellectual development of the girls who participate.

Girls emerge from their programs aware of the different types of violence—domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking—and armed with the abilities to respond to violence with their voices, minds and physical presence. These programs aims to help girls and young women understand that they have a right to be safe and can actually take steps to ensure their safety.

The proposed VAWA 2005 has the potential to help programs like Project BOLD thrive throughout the nation. Advocates should unite to promote the reauthorization of VAWA making sure youth violence prevention programs become a priority. Outside of the legislative arena, the opportunity to help empower girls and boys to help curb the cycle of violence lies within the reach of countless individuals, organizations and communities. It is when they form a collective voice that their influence will be effectively felt by mayors, ministers, athletic coaches, teachers, the police, parents, state and national policy makers and many more.

For more information, please visit NOW's page on violence against women and the official VAWA web site.