Community Rally At Women’s Center To Support VAWA

DANBURY — The Women’s Center is planning a community rally on Tuesday, October 30, from 4 to 6 pm, at its 2 West Street location to build awareness of the failure of the US Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and its subsequent expiration.

VAWA has provided life-saving assistance to hundreds of thousands of women, men, and children survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, since it was first passed more than 17 years ago. It has, say members of The Women’s Center, dramatically improved the way that law enforcement and courts respond to these crimes. Since its initial authorization in 1994, VAWA has led to the reporting of 50 percent more domestic violence, while the number of individuals killed by an intimate partner has decreased by 34 percent for women and 57 percent for men.

The Women’s Center, which serves 13 towns in the greater Danbury area relies on funding for essential services from the Violence Against Women Act.

The Women’s Center provides critically needed free and confidential intervention, support, and counseling services to men, women, adults, and children both in person and via a 24-hour hotlines in a number of areas, in addition to primary prevention, education, and training programs. Last year, services were provided to more than 1,800 Newtown residents.

On Tuesday, Women’s Center employees will be distributing information and providing opportunities to sign petitions to be forwarded to elected officials to ask that vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (SB 1925) in its entirety.

For more info call 203-731-5200.