Last year, I worked with the Congress to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act - a law that I first wrote as a United States Senator over 30 years ago to end the scourge of gender-based violence. My Administration is helping Native American survivors and victims’ families pursue justice in Tribal courts too. The Department of Justice established a new position devoted to ensuring victims and their families have a voice throughout the criminal justice process. The Departments of Justice and Interior are coordinating their efforts to more effectively investigate and prosecute these crimes using trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has new personnel focusing specifically on missing and murdered Indigenous cases. At our 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, I signed an Executive Order that tasked Federal agencies with investigating the causes of this crisis, collecting better data on these overwhelmingly underreported crimes, and developing a strategy to combat this epidemic, which most often impacts women, girls, LGBTQI+ people in the community, and Two-Spirit Native Americans.Īt the 2022 Summit, we built on that progress by announcing that all United States Attorneys’ Offices operating in Indian Country would better prioritize addressing this crisis. Under the leadership of Secretary Deb Haaland, the Department of the Interior created a new unit to speed up investigations, bring families closure, and keep Native communities safe. When I ran for President, I promised to work across jurisdictions to break this cycle of violence. We need to respond with urgency and the resources needed to stop the violence and reverse the legacy of inequity and neglect that often drives it. Generations of activists and organizers have pushed for accountability, safety, and change. Families have been left investigating disappearances on their own, demanding justice for their loved ones, and grieving pieces of their souls. Indian Country has been gripped by an epidemic of missing or murdered Indigenous people, whose cases far too often go unsolved. On Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, we remember the many lives shattered or lost, and commit to working with Native communities to find justice, keep families safe, and help them heal. Get Involved Show submenu for “Get Involved””.The White House Show submenu for “The White House””.Office of the United States Trade Representative.Office of Science and Technology Policy.Executive Offices Show submenu for “Executive Offices””.Administration Show submenu for “Administration””.
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