Posted by [EMAIL PROTECTED] : Date: Thu, 09 Dec 1999 22:23:59 -0500 From: Albert RunningWolf <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> STOP Violence Against Indian Women -- Albert Running Wolf Chairperson: AIMCISG P.O. Box 102 Brookville, IN 47012 Phone: (765)647-4947 Fax: (765)647-5362 ...still strong in the Spirit and in the Struggle... FREEDOM FOR LEONARD PELTIER NOW!! Subj:Justice Department Convenes Domestic Violence Conference... Justice Department Convenes Domestic Violence Conference in Flagstaff To Assist Native American Women FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 100 tribal governments and Native American organizations from 25 states are meeting here this week to learn about the promising practices and programs to address violence against Native American women. Two nonprofit Native American organizations, Mending the Sacred Hoop and Sacred Circle National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women, are in charge of the program as part of a technical assistance grant from the Justice Department's Violence Against Women Office (VAWO). Tribal grantees from VAWO's STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecution) Violence Against Indian Women program are attending. These recipients include tribal leaders, tribal law enforcement personnel, women's shelter advocates and tribal court judges, prosecutors and court personnel. "All of the Indian program funds under the Violence Against Women Act have allowed us to assist tribal governments to partner with service providers who assist Indian victims of domestic violence and sexual assault," said Bonnie Campbell, Director of VAWO. "This collaboration promotes the safety and sovereignty of Native women and also emphasizes holding offenders accountable." Since the inception of the STOP Violence Against Indian Women Discretionary Grant program in 1995, the Justice Department has awarded over $30 million to tribal governments. Arizona's tribal governments have received $1.8 million. The STOP Indian program, which provides funding to strengthen the tribal justice system's response to violent crimes against Indian women, is authorized by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. Conference participants will discuss promising efforts within the areas of law enforcement, prosecution, tribal courts, tribal leadership, women's advocacy and coordination with county, state and federal agencies, including United States Attorneys' Offices. Tribal grantees will also have the opportunity to visit the Hopi Tribe to see its community response to domestic violence. Assistant United States Attorneys from various districts, along with the Northwest Tribal Court Judges Association and the American Indian Law Center, will assist with training and presentations. The 25 states participating in this conference include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. More information about the STOP Violence Against Indian Women program and other violence against women efforts is available at the Violence Against Women Office Website www.ojp.usdoj.gov/VAWGO or OJP's Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov or by calling the National Criminal Justice Reference Service toll-free on 800-851-3420. * OJP and its component agencies' press releases are available for use without restriction. VAW00022 SOURCE Office of Justice Programs CO: Violence Against Women; Office of Justice Programs 12/07/1999 16:39 EST http://www.prnewswire.com Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<> Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<>