Activists Resolve to Expose VAWA’s Inequities

RESOLUTION
Regarding the Violence Against Women Act

1. Whereas, in 2000 Senator Orrin Hatch directed the executive branch to “ensure that men who have been victimized by domestic violence and sexual assault will receive benefits and services under the Act”¹
2. Whereas, despite that statement of Congressional intent, male victims continue to be turned away from VAWA-funded shelters.²
3. Whereas, the language of the 2005 Violence Against Women Act now recognizes that male victims of domestic violence are in need of treatment and protection, and requires VAWA-funded programs to provide them with such services.³
4. Whereas, VAWA funds judicial education programs that instruct judges to disregard constitutionally-protected due process provisions,⁴
5. Whereas, judges often issue restraining orders without any direct threat of harm,^5,6 and restraining orders are widely used as “part of the gamesmanship of divorce.”^7,8
6. Whereas, the Massachusetts Trial Court found that less than half of all restraining orders issued in that state involved even an allegation of physical violence,⁹
7. Whereas, it has been estimated that each year one million protective orders are issued in the United States, and about 500,000 of such orders represent a direct violation of due process protections,^10,11
8. Whereas, 15% of such protective orders are issued against women and 85% against men.¹²
9. Whereas, research shows that most instances of partner aggression are minor in nature,¹³ and such cases require counseling, not legal intervention,
10. Whereas, VAWA-funded programs and policies often discourage couple counseling and partner reconciliation, and
11. Whereas, various VAWA incentives serve to promote family break-up,¹⁴ which results in children losing daily contact with one of their parents.¹⁵

Therefore, the undersigned organizations request that:

1. The VAWA appropriation bill for FY2007 include report language directing the DoJ Violence Against Women Office to provide Congress, no later than December 30, 2007, with client utilization statistics of VAWA-funded programs and services, in compliance with the male-inclusive requirements of Section 40002(b)(8) of the 2005 Violence Against Women Act.
2. The Senate and House Appropriations Committees support and approve President Bush’s budget request to fund the Violence Against Women Act at the $347 million level in FY2007.
3. The United States Congress establish a panel to investigate the claims that the Violence Against Women Act promotes the excessive issuance of restraining orders, which often leads to family break-up and inappropriate loss of parent involvement.Signed:

   Michael J. Geanoulis
   RADAR: Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting

   Michael McCormick
   American Coalition for Fathers and Children

   David R. Usher
   ACFC – Missouri Coalition

   Alan Rusmisel
   Alabama Coalition of Fathers and Children

   Tom Smith
   American Union for Men

   James Hays
   Coalition of Fathers and Families NY, Inc.

   Paul Clements
   Dads Against Divorce Discrimination-NH

   James Semerad
   Dads and Moms of Michigan

   Michael Burns
   Dialogue on Sustainable Community

   Jamil Jabr
   Fathers-4-Justice

   Mike East
   FATHERS: Fathers Asking to Have Equal Rights

   D’Arcy L. McGreer
   Fathers for Virginia

   Richar’ Farr
   Krights Radio

   Marc Angelucci
   National Coalition of Free Men, Los Angeles Chapter

   Gary Gagnon
   National Congress of Fathers and Children – New Hampshire

   Harry Crouch
   Men’s Advocacy Network

   Jeffrey W. Dick
   MensCustodyShelterNetwork.com

   Marc Snider
   NHCustody.org

   Pastor Kenneth Deemer
   Shattered Men

   Philip Cook
   Stop Abuse for Everyone

   Lee Newman
   Stop Abuse for Everyone, NH Chapter

   Gregory Romeo
   Tulsa Area Fathers Rights Association

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