A recent report from the UN says that the US needs to re-examine its policies regarding protection of victims and punishment of perpetrators of domestic violence (http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/domestic-violence/dv-usa/1115-us-breaching-human-rights-of-domestic-violence-victims.html).

The report cited a women who obtained a restraining order protecting her from her husband. It seems the woman made seven calls in seven hours to the police when her estranged husband kidnapped her three chil...

Governor Chet Culver of Iowa signed into law today a bill that protects families by taking guns out of the hands of abusers.  The law prohibits a person who has been convicted of a domestic abuse crime, or is subject to a permanent civil protective order, from possessing firearms or other offensive weapons.

Congratulations to Governor Culver.  Read the entire story http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=189993.

A new state law in Texas now allows victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to find housing away from their abusers even if it means breaking their lease according to an article on NewsWest9.com.

According to Dana Phelps Family Support Services Board Member and an attorney, "Now you are no longer responsible for the lease. The victim of domestic violence can move out, even if it is someone she has just dated and has beat on her or is stalking her. She can break the lease as long as...

How sad on this day of Thanksgiving I have read a story reported by Media-Newswire.com http://media-newswire.com/release_1106589.html that a federal grand jury has indicted Ryan Holness, age 28, of Lexington Park, Maryland, for interstate domestic violence, related to the murder of his wife.

The story in part goes on to say ““The Interstate Domestic Violence Statute, which was enacted in 1994, authorizes federal prosecution of any criminal who travels across a state line with the intent ...

This article by The Associated press today http://www.dailymail.com/News/200911240265 says the state Supreme Court of West Virginia says a perceived threat of violence is enough to justify the granting of a domestic violence protection order.

It further says that under state law, creating fear of physical violence is grounds for a protective order.

It’s about time that all states adopted similar laws.

This article By Sarita Chourey appeared in the Augusta Chronicle yesterday http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/23/met_556758.shtml and talks about a bill that would not allow insurance companies to discriminate against domestic abuse victims in South Carolina. The bill would prohibit, for instance, an insurer from including in its risk-evaluation questionnaire whether the person seeking coverage has ever suffered domestic violence.

The removal of this loophole has already been adopt...