August 2004
U.S. Steps Up Efforts to Combat Sex Trafficking
In response to U.S. State Department's fourth annual Trafficking in Persons report, released in June, Congress is looking at ways to stop trafficking and sexual slavery, and help victims. On July 22, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the arranged marriages industry. Congress is considering the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act, to mandate the disclosure of a potential husband's criminal past and require U.S. immigration authorities to tell prospective brides coming into this country about domestic violence protections.
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July 2004
World Health Organization Supports Domestic Violence Prevention
Interpersonal violence devastates lives and families, and it also imposes major economic costs on societies around the world. Some nations spend more than four percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on violence-related injuries, and low-income nations may be hardest hit. Those are among the conclusion of The Economic Dimensions of Interpersonal Violence, which was released in June by the World Health Organization (WHO).
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June 2004
Esta Soler Honored
Family Violence Prevention Fund founder and president Esta Soler was honored at a gala luncheon in New York on June 21 for her leadership and courage in working, in the United States and around the world, to stop violence against women and children.
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June 2004
Star-Studded Founding Fathers New York Event
Prominent men from the business, sports, music, legal and other communities came to New York City on June 1 to declare themselves "founding fathers" and to pledge to do all they can to stop violence against women and children. The star-studded event featured Gateway Founder Ted Waitt; Liz Claiborne CEO Paul Charron; Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons; and New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre. All signed the "founding fathers" declaration, and urged others to join the campaign.
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June 2004
University of Colorado Officials Blamed for Failing to Properly Oversee Athletic Program
There is evidence that sex, alcohol and drugs were used as football recruiting tools at the University of Colorado. While there is not direct evidence that University officials knew about and sanctioned these practices, they were so widespread that officials should have known and should have taken action to stop them.
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May 2004
Men Pledge to Teach Boys that Violence is Wrong
May 5 was a historic day when, for the first time ever, a diverse and determined group of men came to Capitol Hill to ask lawmakers to do more to stop violence against women and children. The event kicked off the Family Violence Prevention Fund's (FVPF's) 2004 "founding fathers" campaign, which will run through Father's Day, June 20.
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May 2004
Founding Fathers to Come to Washington for Mother's Day
On Wednesday, May 5, for the first time ever, a diverse and powerful group of men will come to Washington, D.C. to advocate for measures to stop violence against women and children. These "founding fathers" will urge lawmakers to support prevention initiatives in the Violence Against Women Act, which will be reauthorized by Congress next year.
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April 2004
New PSA Urges Men to Talk to Boys About Abuse
A powerful new public service announcement (PSA) for television encourages men to teach boys that violence against women and girls is wrong. It is part of the Family Violence Prevention Fund's (FVPF's) ongoing Coaching Boys Into Men campaign, which also includes radio and print PSAs and educational materials.
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March 2004
Stop Violence Against Women Week
Lifetime Television brought together violence prevention leaders, celebrities and advocates for a series of events in Washington, D.C. from March 8 to 12 to educate lawmakers about the urgent need to stop violence against women. Lifetime announced a new partnership with the ESPN network to engage more men in efforts to stop violence against women, and joined the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues in releasing a new report assessing the nation's progress in stopping violence over the last decade.
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March 2004
Experts, Health Care Providers Challenge Federal Task Force Conclusion, Warn That Less Screening & Invention Will Endanger Victims Of Abuse
Leading medical and domestic violence experts this week challenged the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force conclusion that there is insufficient evidence to screen patients for domestic violence. Medical leaders from diverse fields asserted that the Task Force used the wrong criteria to assess screening, and warned that more victims and their children will be harmed if health care providers stop assessing for abuse.
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February 2004
Department of Homeland Security Favors Asylum for Rodi Alvarado
Advocates for victims of abuse, refugees and women's human rights won a major victory last week when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced its support for Rodi Alvarado's claim to asylum. Alvarado is seeking to escape a life of unremitting violence at the hands of her husband in Guatemala.
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February 2004
A Pioneer Dies
Susan Schechter, one of the most accomplished and respected leaders in the domestic violence prevention movement, died on February 3 of ovarian cancer in Iowa City, where she resided.
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February 2004
Pentagon Creates Sexual Assault Task Force
In response to growing pressure from Congress and advocates for victims of abuse, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) established a task force to review its policies and programs addressing sexual assault and offering treatment and support to victims.
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January 2004
Violence Against Women and the Super Bowl: The Myth
On February 1, millions of people around the country will tune in to watch Super Bowl XXXVIII. In the past, Super Bowl Sunday has been a time of public debate over the prevalence of domestic violence in our society, partly because of unsubstantiated claims that incidents of abuse increase on game day...
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December 2003
Teen Dating Homicide Leads To Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
The mother of a teenager who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend while at school has filed a suit against the school district under Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in public schools. This month, Carolyn Mosley filed a lawsuit against the Austin (Texas) Independent School District seeking $23.2 million in damages for the wrongful death of her daughter, Ortralla Mosley. The suit claims that school officials violated Ortralla Mosley's rights by failing to protect her, reports the Austin American Statesman....
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December 2003
Envisioning a New Role for Communities in Stopping Violence Against Women
"It is clear that the criminal legal system has been, and continues to be, a lifesaver for many battered women, including women of color," begins Safety & Justice for All: Examining the Relationship Between the Women’s Anti-Violence Movement and the Criminal Legal System. Released last month by the Ms. Foundation for Women, the report continues, "Unfortunately, when state power intervenes, it often takes over. Many people who call for assistance end up having no say in the intervention once the legal system has entered into their lives..."
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November 2003
Family Justice Initiative Seeks Applications
A new three-year pilot program will provide $20 million in Fiscal Year 2004 to establish comprehensive service and support centers for victims of domestic violence. The Family Justice Centers will be designed to improve victims' access to critical services by housing them in one location. They will bring together advocates, medical professionals, attorneys, law enforcement officers and others who give victims a wide variety of services and support.
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November 2003
Ending Global Violence Against Women
"We know how to address violence against women and children. We have identified successful strategies for addressing this problem. And we know that ending abuse makes a tremendous difference in communities around the world," said Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) President Esta Soler at a Congressional briefing on gender-based violence and women's health.
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November 2003
Music Star Ashanti Raises Awareness About Abuse
Grammy Award winner Ashanti has taken a stand against domestic violence. The hip hop and rhythm & blues star is partnering with the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) to raise awareness about domestic abuse.
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October 2003
USPS Launches Domestic Violence Awareness Stamp
This October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issued the first ever Stop Family Violence stamp. Known as a semipostal, the stamp will raise money to help prevent domestic violence. Stamps went on sale at post offices around the country on October 11.
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September 2003
Justice in Nigeria
A Muslim Appeals Court in Nigeria overturned the adultery conviction against Amina Lawal, vacating her sentence of death by stoning. The four-to-one ruling means the 31-year-old Lawal will not become the first woman to be stoned to death in Nigeria since 12 Nigerian states adopted strict Islamic law three years ago.
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September 2003
Legislation Would Put Immigrant Victims of Violence at Risk
Congress is considering a measure to empower local police to enforce immigration laws – a radical departure from the current system and a move that advocates for immigrants and victims of abuse warn is harmful and dangerous.
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August 2003
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
With Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) just one month away, advocates for victims of domestic violence are joining with government officials, corporations, unions, health care providers, faith-based groups and others to organize activities that will raise public awareness about domestic violence.
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July 2003
Bryant Case Highlights Privacy Issues in Rape Cases
Kobe Bryant's sexual assault trial is not scheduled to begin until August 6, but Bryant and the woman whom he allegedly assaulted are already being tried in the court of public opinion.
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July 2003
Predictors of Domestic Violence Homicide of Women
A batterer's unemployment, access to guns and threats of deadly violence are the strongest predictors of female homicide in abusive relationships, according to a study in this month's issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
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July 2003
Backlash Study
Experts and advocates for victims of domestic violence are challenging a new study from the Oregon Social Learning Center which finds that young women are more likely than young men to initiate physical aggression with their partners.
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June 2003
A New Twist on Father's Day
Captains of industry, sports heroes, well-known entertainers, best-selling authors, community leaders and everyday dads are among the hundreds of men who have pledged to give back this Father's Day by taking a stand to stop violence against women and girls. More than 350 men have joined the Family Violence Prevention Fund's (FVPF) unprecedented Father's Day campaign, which is creating a worldwide movement to engage men in efforts to stop abuse.
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May 2003
Billions Lost to Abuse in the U.S. Each Year, Study Finds
The health-related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking and homicide committed by intimate partners exceed $5.8 billion each year, according to a report released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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May 2003
Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence Calls for Culture Shift in the Military
To better address domestic violence in the military, the Department of Defense (DoD) must establish a military culture that does not tolerate domestic violence, holds batterers accountable for their actions, and provides victims of abuse with the services they need.
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May 2003
New Report: Massachusetts Family Courts Violate the Human Rights of Battered Mothers
Are battered mothers treated so badly by family courts that their basic human rights are being violated? In many cases, the answer is "yes" according to a new report from the Battered Mothers' Testimony Project (BMTP) at the Wellesley Centers for Women.
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April 2003
Victory: An Independent Office on Violence Against Women
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it will follow federal law and make the Office on Violence Against Women (VAWO) a separate unit within the DOJ. This marks a change in the Administration's plans to keep VAWO in its current position as a subdivision of the DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs.
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March 2003
Women Seeking Asylum to Escape Violence may be Denied
Attorney General John Ashcroft may issue new regulations that will limit asylum-seekers who are trying to escape domestic violence, honor killings or sexual slavery. Justice Department officials have confirmed that Ashcroft is reconsidering proposed Clinton Administration guidelines that would have made it easier for women seeking to escape gender-based violence to gain asylum in the United States.
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Contact the Attorney General

February 2003
No Justice: Sexual Assaults at the Air Force Academy
Following allegations of sexual assault and a climate of indifference and intimidation at the Air Force Academy, the Pentagon has ordered a review the Academy's sexual assault policies. In recent months, at least twelve female current and former cadets at the Academy have charged that they were reprimanded for reporting sexual assaults.
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February 2003
Intimate Partner Violence Goes Underreported in California Newspapers
News coverage of intimate partner violence can shape public perception about abuse, and indirectly affect policies designed to prevent domestic violence and help battered women. But an in-depth new study released last week finds that most intimate partner violence goes unreported.
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February 2003
An Urgent Agenda for the New Congress
Battered women's advocates are hard at work talking to members of the new Congress about the importance of services for battered women and children, and prevention and intervention programs. The 108th Congress has 63 new members, and leadership in the Senate has shifted parties – bringing many new staff members who may not be familiar with the issue. The first priority for advocates this year is to protect funding for violence against women programs based in both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Read the full agenda

November 2002
FVPF Board Member Awarded for Public Service
The Public Relations Society of America honors one of FVPF's own at its annual Legends Luncheon for outstanding contributions to the profession. FVPF Board Member, Patrice Tanaka, CEO & Creative Director, PT&Co received the Paul M. Lund Public Service Award.
Patrice Tanaka's Acceptance Speech
PT&Co Workplace ad

November 2002
FVPF chats online with South Asian Women
FVPF Managing Director, Leni Marin, is featured on the first ever Internet radio chat show for South Asian women, "Manasi - Let's Talk", hosted by Radio of India. Marin provides information about violence prevention needs and strategies for South Asian women. Radio show details. Learn more about FVPF's work with South Asian women.

November 2002
FVPF 2002 National Conference Pushes the Envelope
FVPF's National Conference on Health Care and Domestic Violence sells out with more than 650 health care professionals in attendance.

October 2002
California Clinics Brake the Cycle
The California Clinic Collaborative's 3rd Annual Brake the Cycle of Violence Bike Tour held September 13-15th raised over $10,000 for participating clinics: Venice Family Clinic and Asian Health Services. Riders, many participating for their second and third time, covered up to 100 miles in and around Costanoa, a nature retreat located an hour south of San Francisco and raised awareness about domestic violence as a health issue. The bike tour was coordinated by Towanda Tours, a local woman-owned bike tour company.

October 2002
Unleash Your Imagination: Help Us Name the International Center
Beginning in 2003, the FVPF will launch efforts to build an international center that will educate, inspire, and fuel an international violence prevention movement. Help us name the new center. Email your idea by October 25, 2002.

September 2002
FVPF partners with San Francisco Giants to End Abuse
San Francisco, CA - On September 25th the FVPF joined the San Francisco Giants, the Giants Community Fund, San Francisco Sheriff's Department and Blue Shield of California Foundation at a press conference to unveil plans for this year's Strike Out Violence Day with the Giant's on September 28th - a public awareness campaign dedicated to ending violence in the community.

Adopting the FVPF's Coaching Boys Into Men campaign as the theme for Strike Out Violence Day, representatives from each organization addressed the need to teach boys early that violence against women and girls is wrong, including Jim Rear, past president and current member of the California Coaches Association and active partner of the Fund who believes that community campaigns such as these signal hope that someday abuse will end.

August 2002
FVPF Works to Protect Battered Immigrant Women
Miami, FL- August 20-23, 2002 over 500 individuals representing 40 states of the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, Alaska, and Hawaii attended the 8th Annual Meeting of the National Network to End Violence Against Immigrant Women. Learn more about the Network.

July 2002
FVPF Announces Plans to Create International Center to End Abuse
On Monday, July 29th, the FVPF, together with Susie Tompkins Buell and special guest Eve Ensler, welcomed over 100 community supporters at a reception at the Fifty Crows Foundation Gallery in San Francisco to present their bold and innovative new project...

September 2002
FVPF Salutes Friends in New York with a $5,000 Donation
"We wanted to express our heartfelt thanks to Safe Horizon for their heroic response to the World Trade Center attack," Esta Soler, President of FVPF. Safe Horizon is New York City's leading provider of victim assistance, advocacy and violence prevention services.

December 2001
FVPF Makes Worth's Top 100 Charities List
Donating to charity is an investment in the affairs of man. Worth's list of the 100 Best Charties is a guide for those people who expect a good return.