"When women face violence simply because we're women, we live with words and deeds of hate burned into our minds for years," said NOW President Patricia Ireland. "In the same way we've managed to define when an assault is motivated by race or religious bias, we believe it's important to provide penalties for crimes motivated by gender bias."

NOW is supporting amendments to the U.S. hate crimes statute to authorize federal prosecution of violent crimes based on gender as well as sexual orientation and disability bias. "After the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, this is the next step in recognizing that violence against women can be a violation of our civil rights. Survivors will see evidence of the nation's commitment to ending violence against women," Ireland said.

In 1987 when then-NOW President Molly Yard testified before the Senate Judiciary committee, few people understood that women are subject to violence at the hands of bigots, much as are people of color. "Women's rights advocates and newspapers report daily stories of women victims of violence who are unable to get justice for the gender-motivated crimes perpetrated against them. Unenforced restraining orders, ignored injunctions, harassment across state lines, serial battery and rape must all be addressed," Ireland said. "This legislation will offer these women some hope for justice."

Many women face resistance from local police, sheriffs' departments and prosecutors' offices when reporting violence at the hands of their husbands, partners or other intimates. Bonnie Campbell, director of the Department of Justice's Office of Violence Against Women, reports that the largest number of complaints to her office are the result of local and state authorities' failure to enforce existing laws. Adding gender to the hate crimes legislation would, for the first time, allow federal criminal prosecution when local and state officials refuse to take action.

Ireland is participating in the White House conference and is available for further comment. Link to this release at http://www.now.org/press/11-97/11-10-97.html