Battered Women's Network Decries Cuts to Domestic Violence Programs

April 7, 2008 -- CHICAGO --The Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network, in conjunction with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D) and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D), expressed outrage at the current Presidential Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2009. The request, released in February, would cut $120 million in often life saving DV services created and provided by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA.)

This funding “is not a priority for the President’s administration”, Durbin said at a news conference at the offices of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network.

In addition to cuts to the VAWA programs, President George W. Bush slashed the $2 million balance in the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund. The VOCA Fund has made it possible for victims of violent crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault and molestation to get the counseling and other support they need.

“These cuts come at a time when from the year 2006 to 2007 the domestic homicide rate in the city of Chicago doubled”, said CMBWN executive director Dawn Dalton. “We need to ask you, who in your circle doesn’t receive the resources they need because funding is being cut?”

The CMBWN is a coalition of Cook County domestic violence service providers working to improve and increase services for survivors of domestic violence and their families. The Network advocates for local and national leaders to consider the impact of laws and policy on domestic violence survivors.

Since 1998, the organization has operated the City of Chicago's 24-hour, toll-free Domestic Violence hot line, which has provided information and referrals to more than 100,000 callers. Each year, through its Centralized Training Institute, the CMBWN educates approximately 1,500 attorneys, counselors and other domestic violence workers and service providers to better serve battered individuals and their children.

For more information about the CMBWN please visit www.batteredwomensnetwork.org.

Source: Senator Dick Durbin