Montana Legislature Calls for an End to the Violence Against Native American Women

OK, if we can get all 50 legislatures to pass these kinds of resolutions, we will really have increased public awareness of this issue. Good on you Montana representatives!

Here are some excerpts from an article from the Great Falls Tribune:

Amnesty International statistics say Native American women are nearly three times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than any other group of women in the nation.

Montana legislators kept those statistics in mind last week when supporting a joint resolution honoring Montana's Native American women by trying to stop the violence against them. The joint resolution from the state Senate and the House of Representatives passed by large margins in both chambers.

The resolution asks that legislators call upon federal, state and tribal officials to take action to stop domestic and sexual violence against the more than 27,000 Native American women in Montana.

According to the resolution, that will be achieved through:

Working together to understand the nature and prevalence of violence against Native American women.

Supporting access to services for Native American women.

Providing adequate resources for additional criminal justice and victim prevention and intervention services.

Ensuring that the federal government investigates and prosecutes violent crime on Indian reservations.

Thank you Montana!