By the Numbers: 1 in 3

While 1 in 3 women in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some time in their lives, domestic violence doesn’t stay within the four walls of someone’s home. It often spills over in to the workplace and can affect the safety and productivity of employees. Victims are often harassed at work or distracted from their jobs because of the abuse.

Today, President Obama directed federal agencies to develop policies for addressing domestic violence in the federal workforce. These new policies will build on ongoing efforts of federal agencies to improve workplace safety, and outline steps employers can take to provide support and assistance to employees whose lives are affected by domestic violence.

And Vice President Joe Biden held an event today highlighting the importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, a law he championed as a Senator that expired last year. The law combines tough new provisions to hold offenders accountable with programs to provide services for the victims of such violence.

President Obama and Vice President Biden have been focused on these issues since day one. They appointed the first-ever White House advisor on violence against women,  pushed for colleges and universities to act to prevent sexual assault on campus, and modernized the definition of rape so that this appalling crime is more accurately reflected in our national crime statistics. And Vice President Biden’s 1is2many initiative has reached out to young adults to prevent dating violence and sexual assault.

Read the Presidential Memorandum on addressing domestic violence in the federal workplace