FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Contact: Curtison Badonie | [email protected]

CSVANW Hosts Another Successful Annual Briefing for Tribal, State and Federal Officials on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

Albuquerque, N.M.— The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women just wrapped up day one of its 8th Annual ‘Tribal Leadership Summit’. This summit is an annual free briefing for tribal, state and federal officials and those who work with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

“We are proud to once again bring together tribal leaders, advocates, and community members to hold conversations about moving closer to achieving safety for survivors of violence,” said Angel Charley, CSVANW Executive Director. “This year’s Tribal Leaders Summit will ensure that our communities have the information about implementing the recently reauthorized Violence Against Women Act, where an expansion of tribal provisions exist to strengthen tribal response to the safety needs of Indigenous survivors.”

The summit focuses on highlighting the unique tribal, state and federal perspectives and challenges that our New Mexico tribal communities face in regards to addressing and responding to violence against our Native women and children.

“The summit is important on multiple levels because as the Missing and Murdered Indegenous Women and Girls crisis has gained momentum in the national spotlight, the Summit helps to inform tribal leaders about the status and importance of critical issues facing our tribal nations,” said Governor Chavarria, Chairman of the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, who recently attended the signing of the reauthorization of the ‘Violence Against Women Act’ by President Biden.

CSVANW’s annual summit comes at at time when the federal government has reauthorized VAWA until 2027– expanding special criminal jurisdiction of tribal courts to cover non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse and sex trafficking, and supporting 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.

“The 2022 reauthorization of VAWA strengthens this landmark law and expends special criminal jurisdiction of Tribal courts to cover non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking, and assults on tribal law enforcement officers on tribal lands, said Governor Chavarria. “Further, it supports Tribal efforts to prevent and prosecute cybercrimes that include cyberstalking and nonconsensual or intimate images.”

The biggest outcome from the annual summits is the strengthening of collaboration between tribal, state, and federal agencies and governments to systematically address violence against Indigenous women and families across the country.

“It is through concerted information sharing and collaboration 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,” said Charley.

This year’s summit was held virtually due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns and to protect the wellbeing of Indigenous communities across the state.

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