New Orleans, LA – October marks National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to center the experiences of survivors, honor those who lost their lives to domestic violence, express gratitude to the countless individuals in the movement to end violence, and raise awareness on the issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. To address these critical issues, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA) is proud to announce that the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $949,920 to EDLA to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
According to the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, about 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Domestic violence rates are even higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black individuals, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
The announced grants will reach Tribal nations, historically marginalized communities, underserved communities, college and university campuses, rural towns, culturally specific communities, and more. The funding prioritizes increasing access to justice, improving survivor safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering training and technical support to professionals addressing these crimes.
The Eastern District of Louisiana received the following funding awards for the 2023 fiscal year: $450,000.00 to Vietnamese Initiatives In Economic Training (VIET) under the Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program (Culturally Specific Program) and $499,920.00 to Dillard University under the Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program (Campus Program).
The $450,000.00 grant to Vietnamese Initiatives In Economic Training (VIET) will help community-based organizations develop culturally relevant programs specific to American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and Tribal communities to support survivors. Through this new Culturally Specific Services Program project, VIET will implement a project addressing increased community capacity to provide culturally specific resources and support for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes and their families.
The $499,920.00 grant to Dillard University will support colleges and universities to develop and strengthen effective security and investigation strategies for such crimes and to develop prevention education and awareness programs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana recognizes that domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking are preventable crimes that can have devastating effects on individuals, families, and communities. The Office is committed to working with community partners to prevent and respond to these crimes and to support survivors.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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