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Enforced Sterilization of Romany Women
1/23/2006Some time ago Helena Ferencikova, a Romany woman, claimed she had been forced to undergo sterilization. Her case set off many more complaints from Romany mothers who said they'd received similar treatment. Many of them wrote to the Ombudsman Otakar Motejl for help and several have since taken their case to court. As the complaints piled up the Ombudsman's Office launched its own investigation into the matter. Its conclusion was shocking: the Ombudsman said his office had collected sufficient evidence to suggest that at least 50 Romany women living in the Czech Republic and formerly communist Czechoslovakia, were forcibly sterilized in the years between 1979 and 2001. The first court ruling on enforced sterilization was awaited with anticipation since it was expected to set an important precedent. Helena Ferencikova from Ostrava won her case and the court ruled that the maternity hospital in question should acknowledge malpractice and apologize to her. Mrs. Ferencikova says this is not enough, and is demanding a million crowns in compensation. Several other women have followed her example and the enforced sterilization suits will be settled on a case-by-case basis. Roma rights advocates think there should be a blanket form of compensation for all Roma women who can prove their case. By far the most disturbing aspect of this story is that there are some who suggest the practice of enforced sterilizations may not have been completely eradicated. According to Jaroslav Fajrajzl, the head of the Podoli Maternity Hospital, the currently valid law, which dates back to the 1970s, stipulates that doctors can perform sterilization for health reasons or at a patient's request. Dr. Fajrajzl says that possibly the most controversial part of the law - and one that relates to the Roma cases - is the recommendation that sterilization is advisable for health reasons following a second or third Caesarian section. The thirty year old law on health care is about to be amended. Meanwhile, the Ombudsman's Office has put forward a series of recommendations as regards sterilizations. They are that: a woman should have at least seven days to make up her mind whether or not to undergo sterilization and that the hospital should provide an easy-to-understand brochure which explains the procedure and all its implications. Published in: Romany Women Report Cases of Enforced Sterilization, Daniela Lazarova, Radio Prague, 13 January 2006. Contents of the www pages at www.radio.cz is © 1996 - 2006 Radio Prague, Czech Radio 7.
All rights reserved. Radio Prague grants the right to redistribute this information in electronic or in printed form, in whole or in part for non-commercial use only; distribution must include this copyright notice, the date of publication, and Radio Prague's postal or e-mail address *unless specific agreement is reached with Radio Prague.*
Women and Power in Central Asia (Part IV)
1/23/2006Shirin Ebadi, Shukria Barakzai, and Oynihol Bobanazarova all live in patriarchal societies where men enjoy more rights and women face limitations. But despite battling discrimination, conservative traditions and intimidation, all three women have managed to push for their rights -- and achieve success. In 2004, Ebadi became the first Iranian or Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The lawyer and rights activist says that despite threats, she refuses to be silenced. "Fear is an instinct like hunger, whether you want it or not, it will come to you," Ebadi says. "I have twice escaped attacks miraculously and have always been threatened and have been imprisoned, so it's natural that I'm worried about this dangerous situation. But my years of experience has taught me not to let fear overwhelm my work." Ebadi says that as a result of the struggle of freedom-loving Iranian women and men, Iranian society is gradually changing.
"In the beginning of the revolution, when they wanted to insult me they would call me 'feminist, liberal, defender of human rights,'" Ebadi says. "In Iran, 23 or 24 years ago, these words were used as insults. Fortunately, now as a result of the struggle of Iranian women -- but also men -- human rights protection has become valued." Shukria Barakzai is a member of Afghanistan's newly elected parliament and the founder of "Aina-e Zan" (Women's Mirror), a weekly publication that focuses on women's issues. During the rule of the hard-line Taliban, Barakzai helped run underground schools for women in Afghanistan. Barakzai says she has tried hard to give a public voice to the concerns of Afghan women. "Our patriarchal society does not like to hear this voice, it's a voice that even Afghan politicians want to silence," Barakzai says. "But despite these problems, I and millions of other Afghan women have been successful through our tireless efforts to open a small glimpse of hope, for the future generations and for the children of Afghanistan."
Oynihol Bobanazarova, an outspoken rights defender, has played a key role in helping to reform the legal system in Tajikistan and in spurring the country to sign international covenants on human rights. This, in turn, has led to the complete abolition of the death penalty in Tajikistan. In 1992, Bobanazarova was a founding member of the Democrat Party of Tajikistan. But she was later forced to leave the party when she was accused of "antigovernment activity" and criminal proceedings were started against her. Bobanazarova says discriminatory traditions are among the main factors that prevent women from having an active role in Tajik society. "In Tajikistan, for example in the families, they educate girls and tell them that before anything else they are women. For example, they keep girls away from discussions at home," Bobanazarova says. "To a certain degree there is also the people's mentality; we women also sometimes don't speak as experts and we consider ourselves helpless. I think if we do not start to talk as experts, as qualified individuals, as humans -- until that day, men will not take us seriously."
Like Ebadi, Barakzai emphasizes the importance of unity among women. But she says men also have a role to play. "I think on the one hand, women should believe in their own rights as being equal under law to men, but men should also commit themselves to accepting women as equal partners in society," Barakzai says. "It's going to take time, but it can be done through long-term educational programs in Afghanistan and positive campaign by the press and also with the help of clerics. It requires a long-term struggle with the support of the international community. We women can overcome our problems and the [negative] view of society." Cited in: "Women and Power in Central Asia, Part IV: Roundtable on the Tajik, Afghan, and Iranian Experiences", RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, 29 December 2005. Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. http://www.rferl.org.
Women and Power in Central Asia (Part III)
1/23/2006 Afghan women have experienced various forms of oppression throughout the country's history, but it was especially intense during the Taliban era. The Taliban regime denied women all rights to education and employment and severely restricted their activities in public, including making them wear the all-covering burqa. Some Afghan women continued their political activities in the neighboring countries of Iran and Pakistan and occasionally returned to Afghanistan under the cover of the burqa to meet with people.
Afghan women say cultural and social constraints could not prevent them from assuming leadership positions. "Afghan women proved in a short time that, not only on a national level but internationally, too, that they can take part in political activities," says Zahida Ansari, who is Afghanistan's new ambassador to Bulgaria. "In diplomacy, too, there is no problem [for women to handle the jobs]. You know that an ambassador's job, as the representative of the president, is to defend government policy and the rights of citizens in a foreign country within international law. It is a very important job and a big responsibility." Mas'uda Jalal, Afghanistan's first female presidential candidate, says she persevered and didn't let cultural restrictions get in her way. There are many Afghan women who say they would like to work in the social and political spheres but who believe they cannot do so because of family and social concerns. The Afghan women who are already involved in the nation's political activities say their families fully support them. "Fortunately, I have not faced problems from my family," Bamiyan Governor Sorabi says. "They have been supportive. But in some cases, other relatives other than my husband have spread gossip and passed along negative remarks. But in Afghan society, there will be such talk."
Cited in: "Women and Power in Central Asia Part III: Afghan Women Rise to the Top After Taliban Repression", Safia Hassas, RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, 29 December 2005. Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org.
Women and Power in Central Asia (Part II)
1/23/2006 Following its independence in 1991, Kazakhstan moved toward a market economy, and it has been developing rapidly ever since, due in large part to considerable foreign investment. Official statistics also suggest that the negative balance for women -- who represent 51 percent of the country's 15 million people -- might be evening out. Forty percent of all women are registered managers of private businesses, according to those figures. Forty-year-old Saltanat Rakhymbekova is the head of the Business and Industry Department for Kazakhstan's central Karaganda region. She credits the Kazakh government with implementing a proper "gender policy." "For example, in the Karaganda region alone, there are lots of women who hold managerial posts," Rakhymbekova says. "This is the result of the Kazakh government, which is carrying out a proper gender policy. Women's skills and initiatives are being taken into consideration. I think that if women are eager to do their best to succeed, all the necessary conditions are created for them in the country." The lives of many women in Kazakhstan remain bleak, however. A Kazakh economist, Aytqali Nurseyit, notes that women still face obstacles in the country, and he says many women lost their jobs during the transition to a market economy. But he points out that Kazakhstan's economy has grown strongly in recent years and argues that the situation of Kazakh women is changing, too: "What is unique about Kazakhstan, or Kazakh women, is that about 40 percent of Kazakh women have their own businesses. This is very good," Nurseyit says. "Kazakh women also play a key role in the fields of education, science, and health care."
According to the United Nations Development Program's "Human Development Report," at present, female economic activity is 81-86 percent of that of men in the five Central Asian countries. It is equal to the rate in Russia, whereas in Pakistan the rate is 44 percent.
Cited in: "Women and Power in Central Asia, Part II: Women Increase Presence in Kazakhstan's Business Sector", Saida Kalkulova, RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, 29 December 2005. Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. http://www.rferl.org.
Women and Power in Central Asia (Part I)
1/22/2006 In the 1920s, when Bolshevik governments were set up throughout the region, Central Asian women experienced unprecedented changes. Women threw off their "paranja" -- the Islamic dress that covers a woman from head to toe -- as the Soviet state introduced equal gender rights and formal equality under law, including quotas. Quotas were built into the school system, government, parliament -- and even the Soviet Army. "One of the things that happened after Uzbekistan became independent is rediscovery and a rebuilding of Uzbek nationalism," says Alison Gill, who researches Uzbekistan for the New York-based Human Rights Watch. "But, unfortunately, one of the negative consequences of that has been that the government -- as it has pursued its policy of reviving Uzbek nationalism and Uzbek identity -- has reverted to some old-fashioned, or traditional, ideas about women, and encouraged traditional gender stereotypes." Along with a strengthening of those stereotypes, more and more girls are dropping out of secondary schools, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Many Central Asian families, meanwhile, have strong prescribed gender roles. Women are subservient and often fall victim to violence and abuse from husbands and in-laws. Rebuilding nationalism in post-Soviet Central Asia also meant a revival of Islam.
Islamic scholars such as Sheikh Muhammad Sodiq Muhammad Yusuf, based in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, say Islam grants equal rights to women and men. Nonetheless, many women find it difficult to find support among their male relatives or religious scholars themselves. Gender stereotypes are rooted not only in religious traditions, of course, but also in lifestyles. Burdened with stereotypes, Central Asian women have also had to cope with economic hardship, including unemployment and poverty. Many have had to become their family's main breadwinner. In some cases, this has opened up opportunities to pursue careers in business -- a field that so far has proven more welcoming to women than politics. Kyrgyzstan, where women have historically been politically active, is illustrative. Not a single woman took up a parliamentary seat or senior government post after the February 2005 parliamentary elections and the subsequent revolution that ousted former President Askar Akaev. Karamat Ismanova, a member of Kyrgyzstan's Erkindik (Freedom) Party, says women should continue their efforts at representation in the country's political establishment, as their involvement in decision-making is crucial to guaranteeing sustainability and peace in Kyrgyzstan. "We need to support our women, our daughters and mothers, to become candidates to the parliament and other branches of power, too," Ismanova says. "Only then will we be able to ensure Kyrgyzstan's territorial integrity and peace." Many Kyrgyz women argue that a gender quota should be implemented in order to help them advance in politics. That has been the case in neighboring Afghanistan, where the country's fledgling legislature held its first session on 19 December. Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government has vowed equal gender rights and encouraged women to run for office. And with the introduction of a 25-percent gender quota in September elections for parliament and provincial councils, women candidates ran in unprecedented numbers. Sixty-eight of 249 seats in the People's Council, the lower house of the national legislature, were set aside for female candidates. Their candidacies -- and record voter participation among women -- came despite challenges in the form of social mores, a lack of resources, and intimidation by local militia commanders. Women's rights activists -- who comprise more than 55 percent of human rights campaigners in Central Asia -- say advancing women's rights in any sphere requires a broad change in mindset. They say greater equality can be achieved by ensuring that there is no discrimination in legislation and that women are protected from abuse. They also say the job should not be left solely to the government and the international community. Central Asian women themselves must demand an end to discrimination, they argue, and men in the region must recognize the need for equal rights.
Cited in: "Women and Power in Central Asia (Part 1): The Struggle for Equal Rights", Gulnoza Saidazimova, RadioFreeEurope/Radio Liberty, 29 December 2005. Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org.
International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005
1/21/2006 The International Marriage Broker Act of 2005 represents a strong stance against the unlawful practice of domestic violence and on protecting immigrant women. In a 1999 report, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) estimates that the 200 IMB firms operating in the United States have led to the acquisition of a foreign spouse by as many as four to six thousand U.S. citizens, who are overwhelmingly male. The immigrant women, often known as "mail order brides," often come from economically disadvantaged countries in Eastern Europe or South Asia and suffer a lack of information about their future spouse, especially critical information like criminal background. Once inside the United States, these women are prime targets for domestic abuse, a serious human rights violation, due to their isolation in a foreign country, their unfamiliarity with U.S. laws and agencies, and potential language barriers. A fear of deportation or retaliation from their spouse further limits the woman's options to seek help for domestic abuse. IMBRA allows the foreign national client of the IMB to take more control of her impending marriage by providing information on the U.S. citizen, including his marital and criminal history if applicable, and prohibiting the release of personal information of the client to the U.S. citizen until she has reviewed the information and knowingly gives her consent. IMBRA also requires the U.S. government to provide information to the foreign national client, in her own language, on the U.S. laws against domestic abuse, sexual assault, and child abuse and service providers to victims of such crimes. Furthermore, since many men often apply for several foreign fiance visas and marry whomever is approved first, IMBRA also prohibits the simultaneous application for multiple foreign fiance visas. Inspired by the 2001 strangulation death of IMB client Anastasia King at the hands of her spouse, IMBRA will enhance and protect the rights of immigrant women coming to the United States to marry. IMBRA is part of the Violence Against Women Act 2005 (VAWA 2005), which President Bush signed into law on 5 January 2006. Compiled from: "Hot Topic: International Marriage Broker Regulation Act", Amnesty International USA, January 2006; VAWA 2005 Immigration Provisions, Legal Momentum, 18 December 2005 (PDF, 6 pages).
New Reports Published by International Council on Human Rights Policy
1/19/2006The International Council on Human Rights Policy has published two new reports. The first, co-published with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights, is titled "Assessing the Effectiveness of National Human Rights Institutions" and examines methods by which to evaluate national institutions' compliance with the Paris Principles, which govern the status and functioning of national institutions. The second, "Local Government and Human Rights: Doing Good Service" emphasizes the increasing importance of the link between local governance and the daily patterns of our life, in terms of supplying housing, education, sanitation, and other necessities. This report discusses how government agencies can more effectively achieve their goals and act with more legitimacy by applying such human rights concepts as non-discriminiation, participation, and accountability. Compiled from: "Human Rights Policy Reports", The Network of East-West Women, 19 January 2006.
Men who Killed Czech Prostitute get Life Sentences in Germany
1/11/2006 Three young Germans of Russian origin have been handed lengthy jail sentences for the kidnapping, rape and murder of a prostitute in the Czech Republic. The regional court in the southern German city of Heilbronn found that the three men had planned to sell the sex worker from the Czech border city of Plzen to a brothel in Germany. The judges said the leader of the group hatched the plot because he was 30,000 euros in debt. They raped and killed the 37 year old woman after failing to beat her into submission, for fear that she would report them to the police. Two of them received life sentences, the third was handed a fifteen year prison sentence. Taken From: Men who killed Czech prostitute get life sentences in Germany, Radio Prague, 10 January 2006. All rights reserved. Radio Prague grants the right to redistribute this information in electronic or in printed form, in whole or in part for non-commercial use only.
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United States' Fair Housing Act Prohibits Discrimination Against Domestic Violence Victims
1/6/2006 The U.S. District Court for Vermont, in its ruling on cross motions for summary judgment in the case of Bouley v. Young-Sabourin, recently ruled that the Fair Housing Act prohibits a landlord from evicting a woman because she was battered. The judge based the ruling on the fact that the victims of domestic violence are usually women and that throwing them out of their home for being abused constitutes gender-based discrimination, which women are protected against under the Act. Quinn Bouley was the plaintiff in the Vermont case. Ms. Bouley called the police after being attacked by her husband. She obtained a restraining order and filed criminal charges against him. Soon after the attack however, her landlord visited her to discuss the attack. The visit was followed by an eviction notice in which the landlord, Ms. Young-Sabourin, noted her fear that the violence would continue. Ms. Bouley filed suit, alleging that her landlord discriminated against her because she did not act in a "stereotypically 'feminine' manner." This is a type of gender discrimination that the Supreme Court has already held to be unlawful. The U.S. District Court agreed that the eviction was based on unlawful gender discrimination. Soon after its decision was released, the parties settled. This is a very important decision for domestic violence victims. The Department of Justice indicates that "women living in rental housing experience intimate partner violence at three times the rate of women who own their homes." According to the ACLU these victims are less likely to report abuse because they are fully aware that if the landlord finds out about the violence, they may end up homeless. The decision from this case paves the way to eliminating this double victimization. It provides protection for women who are strong enough to stand up to their abusers and helps to keep "their families safe." The ACLU, which wrote an amicus brief on behalf of Ms. Bouley, believes that "the principle set out in the judge's ruling should be applicable to other areas of the law" as well. Compiled from:
Federal Law Protects Battered Women From Housing Discrimination, Court Rules, ACLU, 1 April 2005.
ACLU Hails Ruling That Fair Housing Act Prohibits Discrimination Against Victims of Domestic Violence, ACLU, 18 April 2005.
United States' Violence Against Women Act 2005 Signed into Law
1/6/2006 On 5 January 2006, United States President George Bush signed into law the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA). This is a reauthorization of the comprehensive federal domestic violence law first passed in 1994 and reauthorized in 2000. The 2000 version of the law expired in September 2005. The law enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress. "This law supports programs that have been successful in combating domestic violence and changing attitudes toward violence in the family in America. In addition, VAWA will also expand its focus to change attitudes toward other violent crimes including dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This law takes significant steps to ensure that these serious crimes receive the proper attention and resources they deserve," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.). President of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, Esta Soler, released a statement commending President Bush's actions. "Our homes and communities will be safer and healthier because President Bush signed a strong Violence Against Women Act into law this afternoon. We commend Congress for passing this critical legislation, and the President for signing it so promptly. It can significantly improve the nation's response to domestic, sexual and dating violence, and stalking." Compiled From: Sensenbrenner Praises President Bush's Signing of Violence Against Women Act, US Newswire, 5 January 2006; Bush Signs 'Violence Against Women Act'; Funding Badly Needed Initiatives to Prevent Domestic & Sexual Violence, Help Victims; Statement by Esta Soler, President, Family Violence Prevention Fund, US Newswire, 5 January 2006; Bush Signs Domestic Violence Act Extension, The Guardian, 6 January 2006.
Russian Parliament Considers Tightening Control over NGOs
1/4/2006 Despite allegations that it is a "threat to civil society," the lower house of the Russian Parliament, in the first two of three readings required to make a law, has passed a draft bill that will allow closer regulation of NGOs. Some say the legislation is necessary for national security, arguing that the government must keep closer watch over the activities and finances of the organizations. The legislation is strongly supported by the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin. "The authorities argue that NGOs are being used by Western governments and foreign spies to fan revolution across the former Soviet Union." Western governments have voiced criticism of the bill and Russian NGOs are lobbying for revisions that will remove the threat to democracy. Compiled from: Rosenberg, Steve, "Russian MPs pass key NGO measure," BBC News, 21 December 2005.
Campaign 88 Days
1/4/2006 Campaign 88 Days is an effort to raise awareness, take action and mobilise resources for women's rights worldwide. In the 88 days between December 10, 2005, International Human Rights Day and March 8 2006, International Women’s Day, you can help keep women safe from domestic and sexual violence, guarantee them equal treatment in the work force, push governments to do what’s right for women, and support groundbreaking initiatives. Together with your support we can change the world in 88 days. Because women’s rights are human rights…read the facts.
What can you do?
Share your vision, courage, hope and voice in any – or all – of these five ways. You will join thousands of women around the world in the Mama Cash Campaign 88 Days.
Petition the European Commission to do what’s right for women! In 2003, only 0.04% of the total European Commission aid supported women-specific projects. This is unacceptable! Help bring change by signing the world-wide petition to the European Commission asking them to increase their support for women.
Source: report “Where is the Money for Women’s Rights Work?”, Zed Books, October 2005.
Vote for the (she changes the world)-award. From around the world, six pioneering organizations, supported by Mama Cash, are nominated. The winner will receive €20.000 from Mama Cash to help change the world where they live.
Contribute €1 every day for 88 days, or whatever amount is right for you, and help raise €1 million that Mama Cash turns into grants to make the world a better place for women, men and children. Mama needs cash!
Send an e-card! Send everyone you know the Campaign 88 Days e-card. Energize your friends, family and colleagues. Together with you, we can make this campaign known around the world!
Be informed by registering for 8 times Mama Cash e-news with Campaign 88 Days progress reports, ways to take action, stories of brave and inspiring women who are changing the world.
Where’s Campaign 88 Days from? Campaign 88 Days was initiated in December 2003 by the HER Fund (www.herfund.org), the women’s fund in Hong Kong. HER Fund will hold Campaign 88 Days again in Hong Kong this year. Other women’s funds doing the campaign this year are Tewa (www.tewa.org.np, Nepal), Nirnaya (www.nirnaya.org, India) and the Mongolian Women's Fund (www.mones.org.mn). Cited from: Mama Cash website, last visited 12 December 2005.
Over 50 Cases of Unlawful Sterilization, Says Ombudsman
1/3/2006 The Ombudsman's office has uncovered over 50 cases of unlawful sterilisation of women. In an interview for Czech Television, Ombudsman Otakar Motejl said his office had been looking into the cases for over a year. Mr Motejl said Health Ministry documentation on the sterilisations did not contain written requests, or evidence that the women had been fully informed about the procedure. He said the cases, which mostly involve Romany women did not reflect racial discrimination. Cited in: Over 50 Cases of Unlawful Sterilisation, Says Ombudsman, Radio Prague, 30 December 2005. Contents of the www pages at www.radio.cz is © 1996 - 2006 Radio Prague, Czech Radio 7 All rights reserved. Radio Prague grants the right to redistribute this information in electronic or in printed form, in whole or in part for non-commercial use only; distribution must include this copyright notice, the date of publication, and Radio Prague's postal or e-mail address *unless specific agreement is reached with Radio Prague.* For uses of this material not covered by this notice, please contact us at:
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Violence Against Women Act of 2005 Passes in the House and the Senate
1/1/2006 Before adjourning for the holidays, both houses of Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA). The first version of VAWA passed in 1994. It was reauthorized in 2000 and expired September 30, 2005. Advocates around the country have been advocating for the passage of this new bill all year. "VAWA 2005 is landmark legislation that funds initiatives to help children exposed to violence, train health care providers to support victims of abuse, work with men as allies to help teach the next generation that violence is wrong, and provide crisis services for victims of rape and sexual assault" (cited in: Congress Completes Work on Violence Against Women Act, Family Violence Prevention Fund, 19 December 2005). The bill also promises funding to train public officials to respond to the problem and to improve law enforcement efforts. It calls for continued strengthening of support services, including the provision of transitional housing. Two controversial amendments were proposed prior to the bill's passage. The "Kyl Amendment," which allows federal agencies to collect DNA samples for the national database, passed and is a part of the final bill. The "King Amendment," however, was rejected. It would have affected immigrant women by prohibiting batterers from serving as a sponsor for visa applicants. The passage of VAWA is seen as critical to protecting the victims and combating domestic violence and sexual assault. Compiled from: Congress Completes Work on Violence Against Women Act, Family Violence Prevention Fund, 19 December 2005.
VAWA 2005 Reauthorization, national IMMIGRATION project, 17 December 2005.
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