Join MPAC’s Campaign to Pass
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Washington, DC: The Muslim Public Affairs Council has launched a national campaign to mobilize American Muslims to push for the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in Congress. Join “Voices for VAWA: Muslims Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse” by spending 10 minutes this week reaching out to your senators and joining our national conference call on Feb. 20, says an MPAC press release.
DOWNLOAD: “Voices for VAWA: Muslims Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse” Action Kit (www.mpac.org)
Written to protect women against domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking problems, VAWA was introduced in 1994 by then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) and supports comprehensive, effective and cost-saving responses to these crimes. VAWA programs, administered by the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, give law enforcement, prosecutors and judges the tools they need to hold offenders accountable and keep communities safe while supporting victims.
American Muslims are not immune to the domestic violence disease; as such, it is important that we are one of the voices to reauthorize VAWA. This week, Haris Tarin, the director of MPAC’s Washington, DC, office had an op-ed published on the Huffington Post explaining why VAWA should be a central concern for American Muslims.
SEE: “An American Muslim Man’s Case for VAWA” (Huffington Post)
“American Muslims must assert their voice in this conversation. Besides our community being heavily impacted by this issue, it is our prophetic tradition to stand up for the most vulnerable in society and inspire our communities to engage in the advocacy process. American Muslim institutions, mosques and leaders should be at the forefront of advocating on this legislation.”
It is imperative that the Senate and House reauthorize VAWA in order to continue and improve resources to protect women.
To learn more information and what you can do to help pass VAWA, join MPAC on a national conference call on Feb. 20, 2013 at 1 p.m. PST/ 4 p.m. EST.
This week, the Senate will vote on the reauthorization of VAWA through Senate Bill 47, which would increase protections and access to resources for underserved communities such as Native American women, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community and immigrant women. The bill is most likely to pass in the Senate with a strong bipartisan vote, but may stall once again in the House, which refused to vote on it last year.
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