At a press briefing in the US Capitol, Jolie expressed
support for renewing legislation that would provide victims of such abuse with
medical and legal assistance, as well as support to children who have been
exposed to violence in the home.
“The ugly truth is that violence in homes is normalised in
our country,” said the filmmaker and Academy Award-winning actress.
“I want to acknowledge the children who are terrified and
suffering at this moment, and the many people for whom this legislation comes
too late,” said Jolie, who teared up as she called on Congress to make
reauthorisation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) a priority.
The 46-year-old “Eternals” star has accused her ex-husband
Brad Pitt of intentionally hitting their son Maddox, then 15 — although Pitt
has been cleared of the allegations.
President Joe Biden, then a US senator, was primary author
of the original version of the bill first signed into law in 1994. Subsequent
versions of VAWA have passed with strong support from both Democrats and
Republicans.
But in 2019, a version that had cleared the House of
Representatives stalled in the Senate, which was then controlled by Republicans
who prevented the bill from coming to a final vote.
The legislation unveiled Wednesday also has bipartisan
support, and Biden applauded the group of lawmakers from both parties who came
together to introduce the VAWA reauthorization.
“Combatting domestic violence, sexual assault, dating
violence, and stalking should not be a Democratic issue or Republican issue.
It’s a matter of justice and compassion,” Biden said, adding he looks forward
to the bill reaching his desk “without delay.”
Republican Senator Joni Ernst, herself a survivor of
domestic violence and sexual assault, was elated that a deal had been reached
to get VAWA over the finish line.
“We can almost let out a sigh of relief,” she said.
AFP
0 comments:
Post a Comment