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Protect our American Indian and Alaska Native Women
Support reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with strong tribal provisions
Native American women face disproportionately high rates of violence. Most of these violent acts involve non-Native Americans, and directly contribute to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Because 96 percent of the perpetrators of sexual violence against women and girls in Indian Country are non-Native, expanding tribal jurisdiction over non-Native assailants is necessary for seeking justice for survivors and victims. It is beyond unacceptable that the vast majority of these women never see their abusers or rapists brought to justice.
Here’s what you can do. Please write to your two senators to urge them to approve a Senate VAWA reauthorization bill similar to H.R. 1585, that restores tribal jurisdiction and ensures that resources are made available to victims. The provisions in the House bill are essential to protecting our most vulnerable sisters in Native communities.
Fill out this form to send an email to your Senators urging them to approve a Senate VAWA reauthorization bill that includes strong tribal provisions. Please feel free to edit the wording to personalize the letter. Then click the "Take Action" button at the bottom.
Protect American Indian and Alaska Native Women
Use this form to take action by emailing your Senators urging them to approve a Senate VAWA reauthorization bill. We have developed the initial draft message but we encourage you to make it your own. Click in the boxes to the right to change the letter, adding in your personal stories and requests.
Our emailing system will input your signature at the bottom of the letter.
Once you're satisfied with your letter, click "Send Email" at the bottom of the page and your voice will be counted!
Sorry, we're not targeting any elected officials in your district. But, you can still help!
Call your Senators directly.
Click this link and locate your state in the drop down menu on the left. Then call the Senator directly, using the office phone numbers listed. We've given you a sample script you may wish to use.
Sample Script:
"As your constituent and a person of faith affiliated with the Franciscan Action Network, I strongly urge you to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with strong tribal provisions, restoring tribal jurisdiction over crimes against women and girls. Native American women face disproportionately high rates of violence. Most of these violent acts involve non-Native Americans, and directly contribute to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Because 96 percent of the perpetrators of sexual violence against women and girls in Indian Country are non-Native (according to the May 2016 National Institute of Justice Research Report), expanding tribal jurisdiction over non-Native assailants is necessary for seeking justice for survivors and victims.
Tribes need to be able to protect their citizens. The reauthorization of VAWA must restore tribal jurisdiction and expand the type of crimes over which the tribe would have jurisdiction to include sexual assault, stalking, sex trafficking, and child abuse as well as assault on tribal law enforcement officers, who help keep the Native communities safe. The The House version of the VAWA reauthorization (H.R. 1585) makes many of these necessary changes and I ask that a Senate bill include these provisions, as they are essential to protecting Indian Country's most vulnerable.
Thank you for supporting a Senate VAWA bill that respects tribal sovereignty and restores tribal jurisdiction over non-Native Americans. Peace and all good."