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Calling for the Protection of the Home in Our Homeland, Greens Cite an Alarming Increase of Violence Against Women. |
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Tuesday, February 25, 2003 Contacts: The U.S. needs a 'Code Orange' for threats against women's health and security, says the Green Party. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Elected officials and members of the Green Party of the United States are calling attention to an increase in rape and domestic violence in the U.S., reflecting a global trend in violence against women. Greens cite preliminary data released by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program which shows that forcible rape increased by 1.8% nationwide in the first half of 2002 when compared to the same period in 2001. New York City reported a 5% increase in rapes over last year, with 100 more rapes reported through mid-November of 2002 than the same period in 2001. The Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Council reports that the number of battered women is increasing by 6% each year, a number that is reflected across the country. "We are losing the war on terror in our own homes," said Brenda Konkel, a Green who sits on the Madison, Wisconsin City Council. "A failing economy and war with Iraq have diverted our attention from this critical issue. We demand a response from the Department of Homeland Security, now that it encapsulates virtually every federal agency, to the fact that the greatest threat against women in the U.S. may be the person next to them. This should be the real front page news." Each year approximately one million incidents of domestic violence occur, with eight out of 10 incidents involving a female victim, and 28% of all women report at least one episode of physical violence from their partners. In June and July, 2002, five domestic homicides occurred at Fort Bragg, three by soldiers recently returned from Afghanistan. The stresses of economic hard times, doubling up of living arrangements, strained work schedules, and loss of services may contribute to domestic violence. A six-year study of 17,000 Iowa families receiving public assistance found that half of parents studied had experienced domestic abuse by a partner, and that parents participating in welfare reform programs were more likely to experience domestic violence than those in more traditional welfare programs. The lack of affordable housing and rise in homelessness have cut down the number of shelter spots available to women seeking safety. According to domestic violence crisis shelter providers in Los Angeles, 54% of victims or households seeking crisis shelter were not able to access it. "As our country diverts funds to war and the surveillance of U.S. citizens, the cuts in social programs hurt our most vulnerable populations," said Kevin McKeown, Mayor pro tem from Santa Monica, California and a Green Party National Committee member. "There is a serious and growing lack of housing, food, child care, and medical insurance. Many state budget deficits are in the hundreds of millions and the federal budget deficit looms in the billions. The Bush administration's 2003 budget reflects its real priorities -- to reward oil and defense corporations for multimillion dollar campaign contributions. Now is the time for courageous and creative leaders to address truly critical homeland issues." "Here in Santa Monica we've seen the impacts of failed federal policy with a 25% increase in requests for social service agency assistance in just the last year," added McKeown. "Our local efforts to provide services and affordable housing just can't keep up, and these are the real homeland issues for unsheltered families and hungry children." The 1994 Violence Against Women Act provided funding for victim services, shelters, education, prosecution, and training for law enforcement providers and judges. Despite this legislation, many rape and domestic violence centers are facing federal and state budget cuts that threaten their existence. As a result of the USA Patriot Act, Congress has shifted payments from the crime victim's fund from battered spouse and rape centers to direct compensation for crime victims, further reducing available funds. After the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Domestic Violence Task Force was disbanded at the end of 2000 when federal funding ran out, domestic violence deaths the following year rose 400%. Centers in Boston, Oak Ridge, Louisville, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Los Angeles have seen funding dwindle. Programs cut across the nation include rape prevention counseling, crisis shelters, law enforcement sensitivity training, and batterer intervention programs. "It makes me furious to know that the hard-earned taxes of U.S. workers are being spent on the military and wars instead of helping our sisters and our children," said Starlene Rankin, California Green, Lavender Green Caucus delegate to the party's national committee, and organizer of the growing national Green women's caucus. "What kind of government has these kind of priorities? The WRONG kind is what kind it is!" "We call on President Bush to honor his statement in the State of the Union speech that 'America will do what is necessary to ensure our nation's security,'" added Rankin. "Telling us that he has just authorized 'the largest increase in defense spending in two decades,' does not help the most vulnerable residents in this country." MORE INFORMATION search: rgt, pce, trr
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