Source: digitaljournal.com
In an effort to do more to help fight violence against women, Vice President Joe Biden recently announced the first advisor to the White House. The effort to “shine a light” on the problem is being seen as a momentous occasion in American history.
It is a problem that continues to plague the globe, killing countless women and psychologically scarring millions more: violence.
Violence against women, including date rape, domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault affects millions every year, with over one in three women having been physically or sexually assaulted at some point in their life. With two-thirds of female victims being harmed by someone they know and tens of thousands dying at the hands of a husband or intimate partner, the problem is one that is very real.
The Vice Pesident on June 26, appointed Lynn Rosenthal as the first ever official advisor on Violence Against Women. In making the announcement, Biden had this to say:
“My proudest legislative achievement in the Senate was passing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). We’ve made great strides since its passage – shining a light on an all too silent issue and reducing violence against women in significant numbers. But we have to do more,” said Vice President Biden. “That’s why we’re here today – to do more. It’s an honor to announce the first ever White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, Lynn Rosenthal. Lynn is passionate about these issues and knows them backwards and forwards
Rosenthal has an extensive background serving those victims of domestic and sexual violence, including her advocacy role in the re-authorization of the VAWA itself. According to the National Domestic Violence Helpline (NDVH), she is currently the Executive Director of the National Network to End Domestic violence and the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She has also served in the trenches as a former director of a shelter.
Her expertise in the areas of survivor-advocacy, federal policies related to violence against women and state/local community response programs will help her in her newly appointed role as advisor to both President Obama and Vice President Biden where she will do more than advise on domestic violence and sexual assault, but will:
be a liaison to the domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy community; coordinate with the Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) on implementation of Violence Against Women Act programs; coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services on implementation of Family Violence Prevention Act services (including the National Domestic Violence Hotline); coordinate with the State Department and USAID on global domestic violence initiatives; and drive the development new initiatives and policy aimed at combating domestic violence and sexual assault with advocacy groups and members of Congress.
First White House advisor to address violence against women
