2007 December » Feminist Peace Network

Dear Supporters of the New Orleans Women’s Health Clinic:

Even before Hurricane Katrina, women of color and low income women in New Orleans lacked access to basic health care.* Today, twenty-eight months after the storm, the limited health care resources that existed before the storm for low income and uninsured individuals have yet to be replaced, despite repeated commitments by public officials to create a “better system.” In reality, this “better system” includes plans to shift from public services to subsidized private health insurance, leaving over 60 percent of Louisiana ‘s most vulnerable residents without health insurance or a safety net.

Combined with the loss of needed public resources and the continuation of economic isolation, gender inequality, environmental hazards, limited housing affordability, and racial discrimination, this lack of services and access to safe, affordable preventative care is equal to a public health disaster that directly impacts women of color and low-income women particularly those who are young, uninsured, immigrant, elders, head of households, HIV/AIDS positive, homeless, sex workers, queer, disabled/differently-abled, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, and living in public housing ˆ as they face increased barriers to health care.
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From the Family Violence Prevention Fund:

Domestic Violence, Domestic Homicide Remain Serious Problems
In United States, New Justice Department Data Shows
Statement of Esta Soler, President, Family Violence Prevention Fund

“New data issued this evening by the Bureau of Justice Statistics show that partner violence and domestic homicide remain costly and devastating problems in this country. Although the overall decline in partner violence in the last decade is encouraging, it is clear that our nation is not yet doing nearly enough to keep women and children safe.

For a crime that has always been vastly underreported, it is disturbing that the Justice Department reports more than 560,000 intimate partner victimizations in this country in 2005 – and even more disturbing that domestic homicides against women rose from 2004 to 2005. On average in 2005, more than three women a day were murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the U.S.

Once again, most victims of intimate partner violence are women, and those ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk. From 2001 to 2005, children lived in households experiencing 38 percent of intimate partner violence incidents involving female victims. Rates of partner violence remain outrageously high for African American, American Indian and Alaska Native women.
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Feminist Peace Network

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Statement on the Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

Gone Fishing…

New Orleans Women’s Health Clinic Needs Your Help

Domestic Violence: Terrorism Behind Closed Doors — 3 Women Murdered by their Husbands or Boyfriends EVERY DAY in the U.S.

VAWA/VOCA Funding– Success and Defeat