YANA Panel Discussion:
25th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act
— November 6, 2019 —
On November 6, the YANA DC Chapter held an event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking federal legislation, “The Violence Against Women Act.” (VAWA). Championed by then-Senators Joe Biden and Orrin Hatch and signed into law by President Clinton, the Violence Against Women Act addressed the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in a comprehensive and multifaceted approach never before seen. Since its passage, VAWA has been reauthorized by Congress three times, improving services for survivors and promoting coordinated community responses to these crimes. This year, it is up again having already passed the House of Representatives but awaiting action by the Senate.
Hosted and generously sponsored by the law firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, YANA members both new and old learned from a renowned expert panel about how this legislation changed the landscape of domestic violence for the better – from new federal crimes to new funding opportunities for service providers to specific protections for more vulnerable groups like immigrants and Native Americans.
Panelists:
Jennifer Kaplan ’87 YLS ’91, General Counsel, US Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women
Leslye Orloff
Adjunct Professor & Director, National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project
Kiersten Stewart
Public Policy & Advocacy Director, Futures Without Violence
Deborah Goelman, Moderator
Attorney & Nonprofit Executive
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Hosted by the DC Chapter of the Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance