NCJ Number
153458
Date Published
1994
Length
22 pages
Annotation
An October 1992 forum sponsored by the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund brought together professionals in criminal justice, health, education, and social services to exchange views and recommend strategies for an interdisciplinary approach to ending violence against women.
Abstract
Participants noted that violence against women is a longstanding problem and involves rape, domestic assault, genital mutilation, and other forms of violence and that its impacts include direct injuries, fear, and extensive economic costs. They concluded that an adequate legal response must go beyond the current limits of the legal system to include preventive as well as responsive strategies, include broad educational reform, and hold institutions responsible for educating professionals and enforcing antiviolence regulations and policies. They should also rest on a multidisciplinary perspective that will promote multipronged solutions and give women resource to a broad spectrum of remedies that includes the civil court system. In addition to the recommendations raised at the forum, the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund suggests guiding principles that should shape future legislation, educational programs, funding priorities, and other initiatives. Summaries of presentations and text of presentation by Kimberle Crenshaw