Thousands of Kansas Citians are victims of sexual violence. Our senators must help

The statistics are staggering.

In their lifetime:

▪ One in 5 women and 1 in 59 men are raped.

▪ One in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience violence committed by an intimate partner.

▪ One in 6 women and 1 in 19 men experience stalking.

▪ A male intimate partner uses a gun to murder a woman every 16 hours.

▪ Gender-based violence disproportionately impacts women, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, communities of color, LGBTQ communities and other underserved communities.

Domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking are pervasive problems in society. Recognizing this, Congress passed VAWA, the Violence Against Women Act, in 1994 to improve the nation’s response. VAWA has been reauthorized three times since then, and each reauthorization made vital improvements to previous law.

VAWA’s authorization lapsed in 2018 and 2019. This is the third Congress that has failed to enact a comprehensive VAWA reauthorization. Congress must act. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 1620, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, last March with strong bipartisan support. This bill, based on extensive consultation with victim service providers, prosecutors, law enforcement and other experts, preserves previous gains and improves current law to better meet the needs of survivors.

COVID-19 has upended the lives of every American and has led to a surge in gender-based violence. Congress must make it a priority to reauthorize VAWA with critical enhancements and no rollbacks. Stopping domestic and sexual violence and protecting victims must be a priority for our elected members of Congress.

Because of VAWA, MOCSA, the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, supported more than 4,500 sexual assault and abuse survivors and others last year through our 24 crisis line and hospital advocacy. And more than 1,000 survivors and their loved ones accessed free counseling to help them heal. But VAWA has also helped other nonprofit victim services organizations throughout the Kansas City metro. Because of VAWA:

▪ Synergy Services impacts nearly 20,000 individuals and families every year. VAWA promotes crisis intervention, safety through housing, evidence-based healing programs and prevention services for a safer Kansas City. - Robin Winner, co-executive director, Synergy Services

▪ Rose Brooks helps survivors at the highest risk of being killed access crisis intervention, advocacy, and emergency shelter services. All critical in helping them create a safe future. - Lisa Fleming, chief executive officer, Rose Brooks

▪ Safehome’s full-time staff attorney assisted 140 clients with civil actions related to domestic violence and this program keeps victims safe, in counseling, in school, and thriving. - Heidi Wooten, president and CEO, Safehome

▪ Hope House provides the Guardian program, which allows safe exchange between custodial and non-custodial parents, as well as monitored visitations, to protect survivors and children from further exposure to violence. - MaryAnne Metheny, chief executive officer, Hope House

▪ Newhouse implemented a transitional housing program, providing rental assistance coupled with supportive services at no cost, and today, 40 clients are working to reach their goals of ensuring a safe future for themselves and their children. - Courtney Thomas, president and CEO, Newhouse

▪ Friends of Yates provides culturally specific services to ensure African American survivors of domestic and sexual violence receive equitable and inclusive advocacy services. - Arica Roland, executive director, Friends of Yates

▪ KCAVP provides services to LGBTQ youths and adults throughout Missouri who have experienced trauma, domestic violence, sexual violence, harassment or neglect, and hate violence. - Sarah Cirese-Payton, executive director, Kansas City Anti-Violence Project

I stand with the leaders of these organizations because we share a deep passion for survivor advocacy and gender-based violence prevention. Collectively, we call on Missouri Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley and Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall to co-sponsor the bill that will be introduced soon to reauthorize VAWA and to vote for it on the floor. Survivors and your constituents are counting on you to do the right thing.

Please help by contacting your senators and asking for their support. To learn more visit 4vawa.org.