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News at SARA |
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The 2006 Annual Trafficking in Human Persons Report On June 5, 2006 the 2006 Annual Trafficking in Human Persons Report was released. This congressionally mandated report tracks the United States’ efforts to combat this terrible crime along with 148 other countries across the globe. It ranks countries based on steps taken by their governments to eradicate human trafficking. Per Secretary Condoleezza Rice in her announcement on the release of the report, “To date, the United States Government has provided almost $400 million to support global anti-trafficking efforts. We are getting results and we are seeing progress and this report is playing a crucial role. By calling to account any nation, friend or foe, that can and should do more to confront human trafficking, we are pressing countries into action. With each year, more and more governments are increasing public awareness of the crime, targeting and prosecuting the perpetrators and helping victims to rebuild their lives.” It is estimated that over 800,000 people, mainly women and children, become victimized each year in this modern-day form of slavery. For more information, please click on this link http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/ to access the U.S. Department of State website page devoted to the 2006 report. President Signs VAWA 2005 President Bush signed the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005. This will allow existing programs to continue and gives additional power to some to end violence against women. For more information on VAWA 2005 click HERE. Labor/HHS/Education Funding Bill Approved President Bush signed the Labor/HHS/Education appropriations legislation in December, 2005. This bill provides a slight increase in funding for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) programs and shelters, for a total of $125.9 million; a slight decrease in funding for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, to $3 million; level funding for child abuse grants to states, at $27.3 million; reduced funding in discretionary child abuse grants, at $26 million; and level funding for assistance to victims of trafficking, at $9.9 million. Funding for rape prevention and education, while not set out separately in the legislation, is expected to revert to the FY 2004 level of $44.2 million. For more information on the Labor/HHS/Education funding bill click HERE. Defense Authorization Act Includes Updates to the Uniform Code of Military Justice The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 included changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). For the first time, the UCMJ will include the offense of stalking. The legislation also now provides for a series of graded sexual offenses against adult and child victims. It also extends the statute of limitations for various offenses, such as murder and rape now have no statute of limitations, and certain child abuse offenses would be prosecutable within the life of the child, or 5 years from the date of the offense, whichever is longer. The legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to ensure that deployed military units have sufficient supplies, trained personnel, and transportation to respond to victims of sexual assault that occurs within the unit. The Secretary is also required to track cases in which the care of a military sexual assault victim, or investigation or prosecution of a case, was hindered by the lack of a rape kit or other supplies or services. For more information on the National Defense Authorization Act click HERE. Stop Family Violence Wants Your Stories
From Stop Family Violence: this spring, the U.S.
Supreme Court will hear a case that will have profound implications on
the prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, child
abuse and child sexual assault cases. Hammon v. Indiana focuses on
admitting victim comments into evidence when the victim is not actually
in court to testify or be cross-examined.
Stop Family Violence needs your stories
for a legal brief that will help the Supreme Court find the right
balance between the rights of the accused and safety and rights of
victims. Visit http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org/226 to tell your story. Your story can help the court to understand the needs and concerns of victims and the crucial role of evidence-based victimless prosecution. (You can tell your story anonymously.) U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Patrick Leahy Honored The National Center for Victims of Crime, along with other leading national crime victim organizations, today (March 1, 2006) honored U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) for their work to protect the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund. The VOCA Fund, funded by criminal fines and penalties collected at the federal level, provides states with essential funding for crime victim services and compensation programs. During the fiscal year 2006 budget cycle, the administration attempted to shift more than $1 billion from the Fund into general revenues, jeopardizing the activities of more than 4,400 local agencies that directly support crime victims. "Senators Crapo and Leahy stepped forward to uphold the nation’s commitment to victims of crime," said Mary Lou Leary, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, during a special awards ceremony held at the Russell Senate Office Building. "Both provided extraordinary leadership in ensuring that the VOCA Fund was preserved to help victims rebuild their lives." (The National Center for Victims of Crime, news release 03-06. For more information click HERE.) |
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