Addressing Gender-Based Violence: A Public Health Issue
We were thrilled to join the impactful event hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bloomberg American Health Initiative and Johns Hopkins today. This platform allowed us to illuminate on critical public health issues such as food insecurity, juvenile justice, gender-based violence, racism and inequity.
Gender-based violence has far-reaching implications on public health. It demands prevention at numerous levels and survivor-centered solutions. The long-lasting effects of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking place a significant burden on survivors; hence addressing this issue is of utmost priority.
Bloomberg American Health Initiative deserves special mention for its vital work in unfolding evidence-based solutions to combat intimate partner violence. Furthermore, it has also made strides towards ensuring housing security for survivors while exploring the role of systemic racism in these situations; they are also examining extreme risk protection orders besides situating COVID-19 within this context.
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) at DOJ holds authority over implementing VAWA laws since 30 years ago resulting in improved national response against domestic violence through expanded programs from time-to-time.
The OVW funds pilot sites across the nation under their Firearm Technical Assistance Project which connects with DOJ’s mission to diminish violent crime aiding DV victims. Another aspect includes funding a National Resource Center that handles DV cases along with firearms.
While we aim to minimize such homicides being committed using firearms but ideally an all-rounded approach will enable stability among these survivors providing them room out seek assistance.
As part of supporting those affected by domestic or instance based situations transitional housing can be provided alongside wraparound services like counselling child care transportation job training further enhancing their transition journey after escaping abusive situation.
Just as AHI focused their efforts on centering the marginalized OVW also focuses on improving accessibility to justice for these survivors working towards reducing the barriers they face in underserved communities and buy funding those programs that take a multi dimensional approach aligning with lived experiences of victims dealing with such situations holistically besides strengthening leadership among different community members to address this issue head-on.
Through legislation like VAWA we have been able to make meaningful progress; thank go majorly towards leaders, senators who championed it because many thought of domestic violence as a family matter kept behind closed doors.
We are still fighting tooth-and-nail against domestic violence where various industries play their role including law enforcement legal bodies courts child welfare healthcare housing industry educating themselves about it feeding advocacy and support at grassroots level along with creating national plans ensuring authorities work together bringing an end towards gender based aggression across our society.
Despite coming so far there is more ground left to uncover featuring prevention implementing trauma-informed resources recognizing online harassment or abuse through coordinated response balanced engagement health sector providing suitable options survivors seeking justice apart from local state governments involvement philanthropy personal initiatives global partners which can curb this menace once knitted collectively over time while striving for homes free from violence.
Thank you at Johns Hopkins for allowing me onto discuss my thoughts eager collaborating future making strides shared goals.
