House Bill Puts Immigrant Women at Risk

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Stricter standard of proof for immigrants that have been victimized sexually than what is required for asylum applicants.... sound fishy? Well, just read on for yourself.
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US: House Bill Puts Immigrant Women at Risk

Committee Vote Undermines Violence Against Women Act

(Washington) –The full US House of Representatives should reject a dangerous version of a bill to renew the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Human Rights Watch said today. The bill would undermine the law and expose immigrant women and families to abuse, Human Rights Watch said. The House Judiciary Committee on May 8, 2012 approved a version that makes multiple changes to VAWA’s existing provisions addressing immigrant victims of domestic and sexual violence.

“Renewing the Violence Against Women Act should take us one step closer to becoming a society in which all women are safe from violence in their homes and on the streets,” said Meghan Rhoad, women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The bill approved by the House Judiciary Committee does the opposite. It rejects progress and rolls back protections that have been proven effective in helping women escape abuse.”

VAWA is the primary federal law providing legal protection and services to women, men, and children who are victims of domestic and sexual violence and stalking. It supports victims’ services such as rape crisis centers, temporary housing for domestic violence survivors, and programs to address violence against people with disabilities. Since it was first enacted in 1994, VAWA has included protections to address the particular challenges confronting immigrant victims of violence.

Read more of the full article at the Human Rights Watch.