Every week at All Saints Church we put our faith into action. This week we ask you to sign an Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) action letter to our senators and urge them to protect Indigenous women through passing the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2019.
The incidence of violence against indigenous women is among the highest in the country and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013 was an important piece of legislation in addressing violence against Indigenous women. The legislation gave tribal courts the authority to exercise jurisdiction over non-Indigenous domestic violence offenders on tribal lands. The program has so far proven successful, with tribal authorities now able to prosecute offenders who previously faced no consequences for their crimes.
However, shortfalls in the program have become evident: tribal authorities remain unable to prosecute non-Indigenous perpetrators of sexual violence, child abuse, stalking, trafficking, or assaults against law enforcement. Additionally, Alaska Native tribes were not included in the VAWA 2013 reauthorization.
The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, passed by the House in April of that year, would rectify some of these shortfalls. The legislation will:
- Protect Indigenous victims of sexual assault and keep Indigenous children safe from violence by expanding tribal jurisdiction over non-Indigenous perpetrators
- Include Alaska Native tribes
- Promote tribal access to federal criminal databases
- Improve coordination and response rates across multiple jurisdictions
Please sign the letter to urge its passage.
