Sign up for email updates


July 14, 2007: Violence against Women Summit

Congressman Dan Burton held a Violence Against Women Summit at the Indiana Wesleyan University Student Center on July 14, 2007. Burton invited a number of speakers from women’s and medical organizations, as well as law enforcement officials to discuss how to expose and stop spousal abuse.

Burton stated, “As a former victim of child abuse who witnessed my father beating my mother many, many times, I know how important it is that we focus on this issue as often as possible. Abuse of women and children must be exposed and stopped.”

To find out more information about his summit click here.

A Personal Message From Dan
Growing up in Indiana, I personally experienced the horrors of domestic violence, and the issue is never far from my mind. I know first-hand the importance of treatment and counseling for the family victims of domestic violence. Fortunately, for me and my brother and sister, my mother was able to escape that horrible situation and built a stable home life for us. The public needs to be better educated about the effects of abuse. In addition, it is important that women and children living in abusive homes know that there are people and organizations available to help them. They should not have to live in fear of abuse. The law should be there to protect them, and when it does not, we should take steps to ensure their safety.

Resources

Shattering the Silence, WTHR (Channel 13), Indianapolis
Marion Chronicle-Tribune story about the Summit
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

Legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Representative Dan Burton:

H.Con.Res. 209, a bill supporting the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and expressing the sense of Congress that Congress should raise awareness of domestic violence in the United States and its devastating effects on families.

Summary: Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress should raise awareness of domestic violence in the nation by supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

HR 2876, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.

Summary: Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to set fourth revised definitions and grant conditions, including: (1) not requiring matching funds for entities demonstrating financial need; (2) requirements for the protection of the confidentiality and privacy of persons receiving services under such Act; and (3) standards for the release and sharing of confidential information by grantees and sub grantees

HR 972, a bill to authorize appropriations for FY2006-2007 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

Summary: Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to direct the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of State, and the Department of Defense (DOD) to incorporate anti-trafficking and protection measures for vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, into their post-conflict and humanitarian emergency assistance and program activities. Amends the Violence Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to extend the sexually violent offender registration program to foreign offenses. Amends the Homeland Peculiarity Act of 2002 to authorize the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement to appoint a guardian for an unaccompanied alien child if the Director believes such a child to be a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons.