Domestic Violence Awareness Month

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
Oct. 8, 2004

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and as an Alaskan, I welcome this opportunity to discuss a problem my State has been combating for decades.

In 2002, more women per capita were killed by men they knew in Alaska than in any other State. During the last 5 years, over 18,000 domestic violence charges have been filed in Alaska, and this statistic does not include incidences where a women decided not to press charges. Since 1976, Alaska has ranked in the top five States for the highest rate of rape per 100,000 total inhabitants.

The epidemic domestic violence and sexual assault rates in Alaska constitute a serious public crisis and our State is dedicated to finding solutions for this problem. In the spirit of that commitment, I helped organize a summit with the Department of Justice to discuss the unique challenges that Alaska faces. The summit provided a forum for law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, health personnel and advocates to come together to openly discuss the multiple issues associated with this crisis. The summit covered a wide range of topics, including the role of responders to domestic violence, the best practices to implement in communities and the identification of training needs.

The summit gave different entities the opportunity to convene, collaborate, and openly discuss solutions that will help us prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. The summit was a solid first step in an ongoing effort in our State.

There are no simple solutions to the problem of domestic violence, but we do know that education and programs that take a proactive approach can help turn the tide on this issue. This year I secured several earmarks in the CJS appropriations bill in response to the domestic violence problem that Alaska is facing. Funds will be provided to the State of Alaska for a sexual assault/domestic violence prosecution unit. Funds will also be available for a new domestic violence prevention project to allow for a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of domestic violence cases. Money was also attained to offer services to victims whose lives have been impacted by violent crime.

Addressing the public crisis posed by domestic violence and sexual assault is a two-front effort. On one front, we are working to meet the immediate needs of the victims of these crimes, ensuring they have the resources they need to recover. On the other, we are working on the long term goals of raising awareness and educating the public. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a vital part of that effort.

In many cases, victims of domestic violence wrongly believe they are responsible for what has happened to them. We must work to alter the social stigma associated with being a victim of domestic violence. That stigma belongs to those who commit crimes, not their victims. By taking care of victims, prosecuting offenders, and educating the public about this issue, I believe we can begin to end a serious problem that has plagued our communities and our citizens for far too long. Many of my colleagues have pledged their support in this effort, and I look forward to working with them on additional solutions to address this problem.