Search

The V Word

Advocating to end sexual and domestic violence

Open Search
Category

Anti-Violence Advocate

Silent No Longer: Honoring Survivors and Victims of Domestic Violence

Join the Virginia Attorney General in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Silent No Longer: Honoring Survivors and Victims of Domestic Violence

You are invited to see the following: Exhibits open at 9:00 a.m.:

* Silent Witness Figures

* Beating Hearts Display

* Domestic Violence Quilts

Remarks by the Attorney General at 9:30 a.m.

Domestic Violence Survivor, Claire Hylton Sheppard

Video Overview of    Telling Amy’s Story

 And enjoy refreshments.

October 4, 2011

Office of the Attorney General, 900 East Main Street Auditorium, Richmond, Virginia 23219

Questions? Contact Melissa Roberson at (804) 692-0592, mdickert@oag.state.va.us

Related articles
2

Get your Prevention ON: Introduction to Primary Prevention

September 23, 2011  9:00AM- 4:00PM
Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley (1217 Grove Avenue Radford, VA 24141) will host an introduction to primary prevention.

Primary Prevention programs are focused on reducing or eliminating the first-time perpetration of sexual violence and intimate partner violence (SV/IPV).

For information and registration contact Jonathan at jyglesias@vsdvalliance.org or 804-377-0335.

1

“Behind the Make-up” a play about Domestic Violence

For three nights only the women of “Behind the Makeup” Monologues will uncover the ugly truth in a theater production designed to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence. This play, written by Jewell Medley, a local of Halifax County, and was inspired by Jewel’s own experience with of domestic violence.  When Jewell was 15 her mother was murdered by her husband, and after killing her mother, he turned the gun on himself.

Performances will be Friday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 2, at 3 p.m.

Tickets are available for purchase now at The Prizery box office (700 Bruce Street, South Boston, VA 24592) and they may also be purchased by phone at 434-572-8339 or online at http://www.prizery.com.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.

Proceeds from this event benefit the Domestic Violence Program of Tri-County Community Action Agency, Inc.

Related articles
1

Address Confidentiality Program

The Office of the Attorney General has extended the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP).  ACP is a confidential mail-forwarding service for domestic violence victims who have recently relocated to a location unknown to their abuser.

The goal of the ACP is to help domestic violence victims keep their new address confidential. The ACP is not retroactive and cannot provide absolute protection.  The ACP is only one piece of a victim’s overall safety plan.  Each ACP participant should seek counseling through a crisis center and shelter services for an overall safety plan.

To apply for participation in the ACP, the victim must complete an application through our local domestic violence program. Below is a brochure with more details.  http://www.oag.state.va.us/KEY_ISSUES/DOMESTIC_VIOLENCE/DV_Confidentiality_Program_Brochure.pdf

2

Vice President Biden’s Initiative: Apps Against Abuse

Apps Against Abuse

The challenge: Vice President Biden and Secretary Sebelius are honored to announce a challenge that encourages the development of applications that provide college students and young adults with the tools to help prevent dating violence and sexual assault.

The application envisioned will offer individuals a way to connect with trusted friends in real-time to prevent abuse or violence from occurring. While the application will serve a social function of helping people stay in touch with their friends, it will also allow friends to keep track of each other’s whereabouts and check in frequently to avoid being isolated in vulnerable circumstances.

For more information go to:http://challenge.gov/HHS/199-apps-against-abuse

0

Historic Victory for Victims of Interpersonal Violence

In a landmark recommendation this past week, the nation’s leading panel of scientists agreed that every woman should have access to screening for domestic and intimate partner violence within her health coverage.  For several years, domestic violence and sexual assault agencies and coalitions; most notably – Futures Without Violence, have advocated for routine screening and assessment to help women who have been sexually and physically abused, prevent further violence, and improve the health of millions across the country.  Finally we are here! 

This recommendation from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) sends a strong message about the benefits of health care interventions for women.  Futures Without Violence has been a leader in an extensive effort to gather relevant research to support screening, coordinate advocacy groups to support the need, and work with members of Congress and to promote the issue.

The IOM determined that rates of violence are significant, and the data they reviewed confirmed that women can be helped by screening and counseling. As one of the Committee members stated, screening “can lead to positive interventions.”

Leaders are calling this one of the biggest advances for women’s health in a generation and clearly it is THE biggest health policy advancement related to domestic violence.  

Guidelines based on the IOM recommendations will be issued by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sebelius by August 2nd to determine coverage of preventive health care screenings and care for women with no additional copayments or deductibles.  Other IOM recommendations included coverage for a full range of reproductive health services including contraception. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans will be required to cover the services recommended by HHS. Through this coverage, and with training for health care providers Futures Without Violence offers, we have the opportunity to improve the health and lives of thousands of abused women and children. 

Click here to see the report brief and full report.  To see our statement, please click here

Futures Without Violence
100 Montgomery Street, The Presidio
San Francisco, CA 94129-1718
tel: 415.678.5500 | fax: 415-529-2930

0

The Continuum of Sexual Abuse

Many people ask what are the definitions of sexual violence/abuse.  Today’s column focuses on identifying what is sexual abuse/violence, rape, and coercion.

The Continuum of Sexual Abuse

Abuse of Sexuality is harassment that occurs when somebody does not conform to traditional gender stereotypes or being punished through the use of sex.

Witness Activity is showing a child pornographic materials and unwanted exposure to one or more other people engaging in sexual behavior.

Advances/Seduction is unwanted sexual advances and situations in which seductive dynamics are disguised or confusing.

Coercion is being pressured into participating in unwanted sexual activity.

Physical manipulation is placing a child’s hand on another person’s genitals or other body location(s) that stimulate a response and touching a child’s genitals or other body locations.

Sexual Invasion(coerced or forced) is the insertion or penetration of any orifice of a child’s body with a penis, finger, or an object of any sort and may involve the use of weapons, alcohol, drugs, etc.

Institutionally sanctioned sexual contact is the overt or covert sexual contact by anyone representing or perceived to be representing an institution, this may include agencies that are caretaking, religious, recreational, educational, etc.

This list was supplied by Jim Struve, LCSW at the National Sexual Assault Forum being held this week in Alexandria, Virginia

0

Happy Juneteenth Folks

Happy Juneteenth everyone.  And how many people even know what that is?  Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States.  According to various reports, In 1865, it was around the teens of June that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas to finally tell Texas that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation (and if you remember your history, that was January 1, 1863).

Apparently, the Emancipation Proclamation had little impact at the time in Texas.  This has been prescribed to be the result of not enough Union troops to enforce the new laws.  It wasn’t until after the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the resulting arrival of General Granger’s regiment, that the Union Army was able to enforce anti-slavery laws.  And so, finally General Order 3 was enforced.  Does anyone know what that order said?  

“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.”      

So, finally a couple years after the proclamation, slavery ended everywhere in America.  And the concept of free labor began.  (And yet, we are still working on our definition of free labor.)   Herein ends Carol’s history lesson on Juneteenth.  So get on with your celebration!

Oh how does this relate to my focus on anti-violence on this blog?  Isn’t it obvious?  Post in the comments, why you think it is or isn’t.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related articles
0

Off to get my retreat on

It’s time for the Action Alliance’s Annual Retreat. In honor of its being 30 years old, the theme is: our history, our present and our future as a movement with the theme of “yesterday.today.tomorrow.” There will be workshops, networking, and self-care opportunities over today, tomorrow and Thursday. The conference is at a new site this year, JMU in Harrisonburg. The keynote speaker this year is Connie Burk from the Northwest Network in Seattle, WA.

Tonight is the Catalyst Awards dinner and socializing with all our comrades to end violence. Tomorrow I give two presentations with my staff, how exciting!

First is my presentation on Art in Response to Violence. Then Megan J. joins me for a presentation on Working with Adult Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse. In between I get to hear great presentations from others. I’ll be tweeting!


0

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑