Letter: Working toward domestic violence awareness

Twenty-eight local governments across the country have passed resolutions recognizing freedom from domestic violence as a fundamental human right. The Domestic Violence Intervention Program, University of Iowa Legal Clinic, and other community organizations are sponsoring a similar resolution before local municipal governments.

Freedom from violence is a human right found in many international agreements. Further, freedom from domestic and family violence is implicit in other human rights including the right to life, and the right to be free from torture and other cruel or unusual punishment.

The landmark 2005 domestic violence case, Jessica Gonzales v. U.S., was brought before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The commission found the United States violated her human rights when the police failed to enforce a restraining order against her estranged husband resulting in the murder of their three children, and when the courts failed to provide Gonzales a remedy.

In Iowa, between 1995 and 2016 the Department of Justice reported that 190 women were victims of domestic abuse murders with 291 surviving children. Further, in 2015, Iowa domestic abuse programs served 23,111 victims, offered 2,642 people shelter, and assisted with 72,614 crisis calls.

The case and statistics exemplify the need for community and government awareness and support for victims of domestic abuse. Local government and law enforcement agencies' ongoing work has aided many victims of domestic abuse. Last spring, Iowa City's City Council passed a resolution recognizing freedom from domestic violence as a fundamental human right, and we hope more local governments pass similar resolutions.

Kathleen Tunink

Iowa City