FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, March 18, 2022

Contact: Curtison Badonie | [email protected]

Local Leaders Laud Biden’s Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

New Mexico –– On Wednesday, President Biden signed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), during an event at the White House where he highlighted more still needs to be done to combat domestic violence.

The following is a joint statement from New Mexico Indigenous leaders in celebration of funding for VAWA being extended until 2027:

“Thanks to the reauthorization of VAWA by the Biden administration, thousands of families, women, and children across the country– and especially in Indigenous communities– can be reassured more is being done to protect their lives and their futures,” said Angel Charley, executive director for the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. “It is through concerted efforts like VAWA, meaningful collaboration with tribal communities, and more on-the-ground resources for Indigenous families that we will get to the point where we can end violence impacting women–allowing us to build the thriving and healthy communities we have envisioned now and in the future.”

“We commend the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic decision to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA has played a critical role in bolstering and improving the protection of Indigenous women and children,” said State of New Mexico Indian Affairs Cabinet Secretary and NM MMIWR Task Force Chairwoman, Lynn Trujillo. “The restored authority in VAWA expands tribes’ legal authority to keep their communities safe, and provides adequate resources to support healing and justice for everyone impacted by violence. This life saving legislation is a significant step toward protecting Indigenous women, men, children and LGBT2S+ relatives against all forms of violence.”

“For too long, non-Native perpetrators of violent crimes against Native women and children have acted with impunity. The 2022 Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization restores the authority of tribal courts to hold non-Natives accountable for sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking, and assaults on tribal law enforcement officers on tribal lands, in addition to the restored authority over intimate partner violence.  The Pueblo of Pojoaque, like many tribes, is getting to work to strengthen its tribal code to restore its criminal jurisdiction over these crimes and ensure that tribal lands are safer for everyone,” said Kim McGinnis, PhD, Esq., Chief Judge, Pueblo of Pojoaque.

The bill signed on Wednesday authorizes all current VAWA grant programs until 2027. Additionally, it expands special criminal jurisdiction of tribal courts to cover non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse and sex trafficking, and it supports a pilot program to help survivors in Alaska Native villages.

The bill also increases services for survivors in the LGBTQ+ community and increases support for culturally specific services and services in rural communities.

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