Ending Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in the United States
The need for action could not be more urgent. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in five women is the victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. In fact, 60% of Americans 15 years of age or older know a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.
Not only does domestic violence affect victims and families; it can also harm entire communities and the nation. More than 8 million paid days of work are lost every year because of domestic violence, and even by conservative estimates, domestic violence costs our economy more than $8 billion a year in lost productivity, health, and mental health costs alone.
Since day one, the Obama administration has worked hard to combat violence against women. Vice President Biden has championed many of the administration’s efforts, including helping create new campaigns to reach teens and young adults, and working to build new initiatives to reduce domestic violence homicides. And to lead by example, President Obama has directed federal agencies to develop policies to address domestic violence and sexual assault in the federal workforce. Recently, President Obama established the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.
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