In op-ed, Senator Coons writes that Violence Against Women Act must be reauthorized

From The Huffington Post: On the day the Senate Judiciary Committee took up the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, Senator Coons, a member of the Committee and founder and co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus,  penned an op-ed stating his support for working to prevent domestic abuse.

The right to live in peace, free from abuse, fear and violence is universal, yet threats to this basic right can be found across lines of race, class and even gender. If we are to protect this right and truly build a climate of security, these crimes cannot be tolerated.

That's why today, my Senate Judiciary Committee colleagues and I are taking up a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Originally passed in the 1990's, certain provisions of this law were written in such a way that they had to be reauthorized every five years, including this year. This reauthorization process isn't a signal that Congress is uncertain about the need for VAWA. On the contrary, it signifies a belief that protecting victims of domestic and dating violence is so important that we must revisit it every five years to make sure that we are getting it right.

The Violence Against Women Act has made a real difference in the nearly two decades it has been the law of the land, with the annual incidence of domestic violence falling by more than 50 percent. Yet we still have a long way to go. Just this year we saw a tragedy unfold in Delaware, where three children watched as their mother was beaten to death on a sidewalk by her ex-boyfriend.

Evil of this kind thrives in darkness, and the Violence Against Women Act serves as a brilliant spotlight, illuminating these crimes so those responsible can be held accountable. In previous generations, domestic violence was just as widespread as it is today, but it simply wasn't discussed in public. We've made considerable progress in bringing domestic violence out from the shadows and seen as a crime not only to be recognized, but to be addressed. As a parent myself, I believe we must keep up our efforts, and that through education and persistence, we can do even more for the next generation.

Click here to read the op-ed in The Huffington Post.

Click here to read Chris’ release on cosponsoring the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization.