VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Rockefeller Urges Reauthorization Of Violence Against Women Act
Reported by: Heath Harrison
Web Producer: Heath Harrison
Reported: Feb. 8, 2013 4:03 PM EST
Updated: Feb. 8, 2013 6:06 PM EST
Eyewitness News Photo
Martinsburg, Berkeley County
, West Virginia
U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller met Wednesday with advocates, survivors and law enforcement officials from around West Virginia for a discussion of federal legislation combating domestic violence and related crimes.
The event, held at the Martinsburg office of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, focused on the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.
The event included representatives from the Shenandoah Women’s Center, Martinsburg City Police, Legal Aid of West Virginia, VAWA Stop Grant, WV Department of Health and Human Resources, and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.
The U.S. Senate has been debating reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act this week. The legislation was signed into law in 1994 and was co-sponsored by Rockefeller. It expired in 2011.
“We absolutely need to make sure that women and their families are protected from domestic violence and sexual assault, and feel safe in their own homes and communities,” Rockefeller said in a news release. “Failing to fully reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act is a failure to protect West Virginia families.”
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Heath Harrison
