Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

For the eighth #HERvotes blog carnival, our coalition of women’s groups is joining forces for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey found alarming rates of sexual violence, stalking, and domestic violence. One in 4 U.S. women has been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, and nearly 1 in 5 has been raped in her lifetime.

This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider legislation that would reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the largest policy effort aimed at responding to and preventing these crimes. First passed in 1994, VAWA supports comprehensive, cost-saving responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Since its passage in 1994, more victims report domestic violence to the police and the rate of non-fatal intimate partner violence against women has decreased by 53 percent.

HERvotes supports VAWA’s lifesaving programs and services and urges Congress to reauthorize and improve VAWA’s critical programs for five more years.

Let’s spread the word and make sure Congress hears our voices.

Join us by sharing the posts below on Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #HERvotes), and other social media.

#HERvotes, a multi-organization campaign launched in August 2011, advocates women using our voices and votes to stop the attacks on the women’s movement’s major advances, many of which are at risk in the next election.

Read more:

Immigration, Intimate Partner Violence, and the Violence Against Women Act– Anjela Jenkins, Law Students for Reproductive Justice Fellow

Teen Dating Violence– Christine Bork, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

Combating Domestic Violence: A Call to Reauthorize VAWA– Mallen Urso, National Women’s Political Caucus

Taking the Violence Against Women Act to Higher Ground– Emily Alfano, NCJW

Tell Your Senator to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act Now– Elizabeth Owens, AAUW

Why VAWA is a Queer Issue– Terra Slavin, LA Gay and Lesbian Center & Sharon Stapel, New York City Anti-Violence Project

Universities and Support of VAWA– Melissa Siegel, loveisrespect.org National Youth Advisory Board

Violence Against Women Act up for Reauthorization– National Association of Social Workers

Wake up, People! Domestic Violence is an Epidemic!– Donna Pantry, Elf Lady’s Chronicles

More Bipartisan Support Needed for Violence Against Women Act– Terry O’Neill, NOW