April 20, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Acting Director, Office on
Violence Against Women
The spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the
United States is having a dire effect on all Americans, but victims of domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking are uniquely burdened
by this crisis.
OVW and our federal partners are in daily communication with
service providers and front line advocates to better understand the needs of
victims as this situation unfolds.
Advocates are painting a grim picture: victims are trapped
with abusers as people obey stay-at-home orders; newly independent survivors
risk homelessness as their economic losses mount; service providers struggle to
maintain lifelines with their clients in the face of distancing realities; and
emergency shelters struggle to adapt their crowded conditions to public health
protocols.
At the same time,
police departments whose ranks may be sapped by the disease continue to respond
to calls for assistance; courts must find new means to hear from victims and
issue protection orders; and sexual assault forensic examination programs must
ensure that vital forensic nursing services remain available for victims of
sexual assault.
Service providers and advocates helping victims at this
challenging time are finding new ways to provide remote services in a safe and
confidential manner, searching for alternative emergency shelter for victims
and their children, working to extend transitional housing services, struggling
to reach both child and adult victims of sexual assault, and striving to help
victims meet new legal obstacles to maintaining their housing and custody of
their children.
At OVW, we have already provided many administrative
flexibilities to help support the work of our grantee service providers and
front line advocate organizations, and we continue to look for new ways to
provide the funding and resources they need.
April 2020 marks the 19th anniversary of National Sexual
Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). This year, we strive to raise
public awareness about sexual assault and educate communities and individuals
on how to prevent sexual violence in a new light.
I have never been more appreciative for these front line
service providers, who need support to help victims in your community. The
challenges that these advocates face today go well beyond domestic violence and
sexual assault, but the risk to victims who are forced to stay home with their
abuser deserves attention.
I applaud all of the
OVW service organizations and front line advocate grantees who are working
tireless to meet the needs of victims during this very challenging time.
At OVW we consider it an honor to support the crucial work
you do. Thank you.
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