VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

WHEREAS, physical abuse against a woman occurs every nine seconds in the United States, resulting in 3 million to 4 million women battered by their spouses and partners; and

WHEREAS, 2,000 to 4,000 of these battered women die from their injuries each year; and

WHEREAS, domestic violence is repetitive in its nature, with 20 percent of the victims reporting a minimum of three assaults in a six-month period; and

WHEREAS, the total health care costs of domestic violence are estimated to be $857.3 million each year; and

WHEREAS, violence against women spills over into the workplace, causing absenteeism, lowered productivity and leading to stalking and physical attacks on the woman and her colleagues; and

WHEREAS, the majority of corporate security directors and human resource professionals rank domestic violence as a significant workplace problem:

RESOLVED, that the AFT support the Violence against Women Office within the U.S. Department of Justice that is charged with coordination of public and private resources to eradicate this problem; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT support the full authorization and enactment of the Violence against Women Act II; and

RESOLVED, that the state federations and locals of the American Federation of Teachers urge employers, through joint labor/management committees, to create safe work environments and programs to provide education for all employees to identify and overcome the cycle of domestic violence. Such programs, often offered through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), should also include counseling, legal assistance and support services to employees who are victims of domestic violence; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT urge its locals and state federations to support the Work To End Domestic Violence Day held on October 1 and to promote education about domestic violence, its causes and steps to eradicate it to all members, their families and communities; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT work with other organizations, such as the Family Violence Prevention Fund and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, to promote the development of domestic violence information programs throughout communities in the United States.