Protecting All Women Under VAWA

Since 1994, the Violence Against Women Act has been protecting women who have been victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence.  The law is up for reauthorization now and the House Judiciary committee has stripped out the language that would strengthen the capacity of tribal law enforcement to prosecute crimes against women under their jurisdiction.

Native American women suffer abuse at far greater rates than other American women. Sadly, there are a significant number of Native women who are currently unprotected by the law. Battering, abuse and rape cases involving a Native woman and a non-Native man have generally gone unprosecuted because of the lack of tribal jurisdiction over the non-Native man, even if he lives on the reservation.

The reauthorization bill submitted by the Senate allows tribes to prosecute non-tribal members who hurt Native women, but the response from the House has been to strip out these protections. The White House has joined a chorus of calls for House leadership to pass new legislation that doesn't make law enforcement pick and choose which cases they can prosecute. Supporters hope that an amendment restoring protection for Native women can be introduced on the floor.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy