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The U.S. Government recently released an important document designed to help end the scourge of gender based violence (GBV). “The U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action” is a comprehensive guide for policy makers and those on the front lines helping survivors of human trafficking, sexual violence, intimate partner violence (IPV), stalking, and other interconnected forms of violence and coercive control.
The vision statement for this plan is:
The United States will be a place where all people live free from gender-based violence (GBV) in all aspects of their lives.
What This New Plan is Designed to Do
The lead paragraph from the plan’s Executive Summary tells us:
“In this first-ever U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (the National Plan or Plan), the Federal Government advances an unprecedented and comprehensive approach to preventing and addressing sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and other forms of gender- based violence (referred to collectively as GBV).1 This initiative builds on the lessons learned and progress made as the result of tireless and courageous leadership by GBV survivors, advocates, researchers, and policymakers, as well as other dedicated professionals and community members who lead prevention and response efforts.”
How "The U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Plan" is Organized
The seven pillars of the plan are:
Pillar 1: Prevention
Pillar 2: Support, Healing, Safety, and Wellbeing
Pillar 3: Economic Security and Housing Stability
Pillar 4: Online Safety
Pillar 5: Legal and Justice System
Pillar 6: Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Response
Pillar 7: Research and Data
Each pillar has clear goals - and objectives for those goals - all supporting the relevant pillar.
Important Topics Highlighted in the Plan
The plan highlights gender-based violence in the U.S. today, to include:
Impacts of gender-based violence on health and wellbeing for people of all ages including seniors;
The effects of GBV on crime reports;
Key research reports and findings;
The economic cost of GBV; and,
Other related individual survivor and society issues.
FREA' Supports This Important Effort
Having personally worked in the law enforcement world for many years, I witnessed first hand the emotional devastation gender-based violence takes on survivors and the negative effects GBV acts have on communities and society at large.
Most of our FREA volunteers are therapists who have worked with thousands of survivors over decades. Several of those therapists experienced GBV personally.
FREA wholeheartedly supports the intent and direction of this first ever nationally led effort.
How You Can Help Stop GBV
The plan is a comprehensive document that will be an important blueprint for policy makers and those working directly with survivors.
If you are in a policy making position, work with survivors, or you are personally affected by GBV, you will likely find this plan worth reading and worth supporting in any way possible. That may mean advocating for relevant Federal and State legislation by calling, writing, or speaking directly with elected leaders, volunteering with community organizations whose mission it is to help GBV survivors, or helping support nonprofits working in your community. Everyone can help make a difference.
You can read the document online and download a PDF copy by visiting:
Posted by Stephen Carter, FREA volunteer.
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