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Policy Platform: Ending Gender-Based Violence and Abuse

For a Just, Safe, and Equitable Society
Date: April 29, 2025

Executive Summary​

Gender-based violence (GBV) and abuse remain pervasive, deeply rooted issues in the United States and globally. Despite decades of advocacy, legislative progress, and social awareness, millions continue to suffer from physical, sexual, psychological, and technology-facilitated violence, with disproportionate impacts on women, girls, LGBTQI+ individuals, and marginalized communities. As a left-leaning political party committed to equality, justice, and human rights, we present a comprehensive policy platform to eradicate gender-based violence and abuse at both federal and state levels.

This platform is grounded in evidence, recent legislative developments, and the urgent need to counteract regressive trends in federal courts and under potential future administrations. We propose bold, actionable solutions—rooted in survivor-centered, intersectional, and trauma-informed approaches—to prevent violence, protect and empower survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and transform the systems that perpetuate inequality.

1. The Scope and Impact of Gender-Based Violence​

1.1. Prevalence and Forms​

  • Physical and Sexual Violence: 1 in 3 women globally experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In the U.S., over 43 million women and 38 million men have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetimes (White House, 2025).
  • Technology-Facilitated Abuse: Up to 85% of women and girls witness technology-facilitated violence, and 20% of women globally report offline attacks linked to online abuse (The Regulatory Review, 2025).
  • Economic, Emotional, and Psychological Abuse: Financial manipulation, coercive control, and emotional abuse are recognized as critical forms of GBV, often overlooked by traditional legal frameworks (LawFuel, 2025).

1.2. Disproportionate Impact​

  • Marginalized Communities: Women of color, LGBTQI+ individuals, Indigenous women, immigrants, and people with disabilities face higher rates of violence and greater barriers to justice and support (White House, 2025).
  • Youth and Online Spaces: Young women, female politicians, journalists, and activists are especially vulnerable to online harassment and abuse (The Regulatory Review, 2025).

2. Current Challenges and Gaps​

ChallengeDescriptionExample/Source
Statute of LimitationsShort reporting windows prevent many survivors from seeking justice.CA SB 273 extended from 1 to 5 years (LegalClarity, 2024)
Inconsistent Definitions and ProtectionsVarying state laws and lack of federal standards create confusion and gaps.CA recognizes financial and psychological abuse (LawFuel, 2025)
Technology-Facilitated ViolenceLaws lag behind new forms of digital abuse, such as doxing and deepfakes.No comprehensive federal law; international frameworks are “soft law” (The Regulatory Review, 2025)
Supreme Court DecisionsRecent rulings have weakened protections and remedies for survivors.United States v. Morrison, Counterman v. Colorado (Ms. Magazine, 2023)

2.2. Systemic Failures​

  • Law Enforcement Response: Inadequate training, implicit bias, and lack of trauma-informed practices hinder effective interventions (LegalClarity, 2024).
  • Resource Gaps: Funding for survivor services is inconsistent and often insufficient, especially in rural and underserved areas (Governor of California, 2024).
  • Judicial Barriers: Survivors face skepticism, victim-blaming, and procedural hurdles in courts.

3. Recent Legislative Progress and State Innovations​

3.1. California: A Model for Reform​

California has enacted a suite of new laws in 2025 that exemplify best practices:

LawKey ProvisionsImpact
SB 273Extends statute of limitations for domestic violence from 1 to 5 years; mandates trauma-informed law enforcement trainingMore time for survivors to seek justice; improved police response (LegalClarity, 2024)
AB 2432Creates California Crime Victims Fund, funded by fines from white-collar crimesMore consistent resources for survivors (Governor of California, 2024)
SB 554Allows survivors to file for protection wherever they feel safestIncreases accessibility of protective orders
AB 2308Extends domestic violence protective orders up to 15 yearsLong-term safety for survivors
SB 989Enhances law enforcement investigation of domestic violence-related deathsBetter accountability and closure for families

3.2. Federal Action: Biden-Harris Administration​

  • VAWA Reauthorization (2022): Expanded grant programs, trauma-informed training, and new tools to address technology-facilitated violence (White House, 2025).
  • U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (2023): First-ever government-wide strategy with seven pillars, including prevention, economic security, and online safety.
  • Global Leadership: $250 million invested in global GBV initiatives; U.S. commitment to UN programs on child marriage and FGM.

4. The Threat of Regression: Trump, the Supreme Court, and Federal Rollbacks​

4.1. Supreme Court Decisions Undermining Protections​

  • United States v. Morrison (2000): Struck down the federal civil remedy for gender-based violence, arguing that crime is a state matter, not federal (Ms. Magazine, 2021).
  • Castle Rock v. Gonzales (2005): Held that police are not required to enforce restraining orders, even when state law says otherwise.
  • Counterman v. Colorado (2023): Weakened stalking protections by raising the bar for what constitutes a prosecutable threat (Ms. Magazine, 2023).
  • Upcoming Cases: The Court is poised to further weaken gun restrictions for domestic abusers and other critical protections.

4.2. Trump Administration and Future Risks​

  • First Term: Rolled back Title IX protections, restricted access to reproductive healthcare, and appointed judges hostile to gender equality (Human Rights Watch, 2024).
  • Second Term Risks: Potential for further federal rollbacks, undermining of VAWA, and erosion of judicial and administrative safeguards for survivors.
  • Congressional Inaction: With Republican control, legislative progress is at risk of stalling or reversing (Human Rights Watch, 2024).

5. Our Policy Platform: A Roadmap for Ending Gender-Based Violence​

5.1. Federal Policy Proposals​

5.1.1. Enact Comprehensive Federal Legislation​

  • Restore and Expand VAWA: Reinstate and strengthen the civil rights remedy struck down in Morrison; ensure VAWA covers all forms of GBV, including technology-facilitated abuse.
  • Uniform Definitions: Mandate consistent, inclusive definitions of GBV across all federal programs and funding streams.
  • Technology-Facilitated Violence: Pass new federal laws criminalizing non-consensual deepfake pornography, doxing, cyberstalking, and online harassment, with strong civil and criminal penalties (The Regulatory Review, 2025).
  • Statute of Limitations Reform: Extend or eliminate statutes of limitations for all forms of GBV, recognizing trauma and barriers to reporting.

5.1.2. Invest in Survivor Services and Prevention​

  • Stable Funding: Establish a permanent federal fund for survivor services, modeled after California’s Crime Victims Fund, with revenue from fines and penalties for corporate wrongdoing.
  • Housing and Economic Security: Expand federal support for housing, employment, and financial assistance for survivors, including those facing intersectional barriers.
  • Accessible Legal Aid: Guarantee free, high-quality legal assistance for all survivors, regardless of income or immigration status.

5.1.3. Transform Law Enforcement and Judicial Response​

  • Mandatory Trauma-Informed Training: Require all law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges to complete evidence-based, survivor-centered training.
  • Accountability Mechanisms: Create independent oversight bodies to investigate failures in police and judicial response to GBV.
  • Restorative Justice: Expand access to culturally responsive, survivor-led restorative practices as alternatives to traditional prosecution.

5.1.4. Address Guns and Domestic Violence​

  • Close the “Boyfriend Loophole”: Ban firearm possession for all convicted abusers and those under restraining orders, regardless of marital status.
  • National Enforcement: Fund and enforce state-federal coordination to remove firearms from abusers.

5.1.5. Protect Reproductive and Sexual Rights​

  • Codify Roe v. Wade: Enshrine abortion and reproductive healthcare rights in federal law.
  • Comprehensive Sex Education: Mandate inclusive, evidence-based sex education in all federally funded schools.

5.1.6. Data, Research, and Accountability​

  • National Data Collection: Fund comprehensive, disaggregated data collection on all forms of GBV, including technology-facilitated abuse.
  • Research Funding: Invest in research on prevention, survivor needs, and effective interventions.

5.2. State-Level Policy Proposals​

5.2.1. Model State Legislation​

  • Adopt California’s Reforms: Encourage all states to extend statutes of limitations, expand protective order durations, and create crime victim funds (Governor of California, 2024).
  • Universal Access to Protective Orders: Allow survivors to file for protection in any jurisdiction where they feel safe.
  • Mandatory Law Enforcement Training: Require trauma-informed, culturally competent training for all officers.

5.2.2. Survivor-Centered Justice​

  • Eliminate Fees: Remove all fees for filing protective orders or accessing survivor services.
  • Support for Marginalized Groups: Fund specialized programs for Indigenous, LGBTQI+, immigrant, and rural survivors.

5.2.3. Technology and Online Safety​

  • State-Level Digital Safety Laws: Criminalize doxing, deepfake abuse, and cyberstalking; require platforms to cooperate with law enforcement and survivors.
  • Digital Literacy and Prevention: Fund public education campaigns on online safety and digital consent.

5.3. International Leadership​

  • Ratify CEDAW: The U.S. must finally ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
  • Global Partnerships: Lead and fund international efforts to end GBV, including technology-facilitated violence, through the UN and multilateral forums (White House, 2025).

6. Implementation Plan​

6.1. Legislative Agenda​

  • First 100 Days: Introduce comprehensive GBV legislation in Congress; launch a national task force to coordinate federal-state action.
  • State Partnerships: Incentivize states to adopt model reforms through federal grants and technical assistance.
  • Oversight and Evaluation: Establish a national GBV oversight commission to monitor progress, ensure accountability, and recommend further reforms.

6.2. Funding and Resources​

  • Federal Budget: Allocate at least $1 billion annually for GBV prevention, survivor services, and research.
  • Public-Private Partnerships: Engage technology companies, employers, and civil society in prevention and response efforts.

6.3. Public Engagement and Education​

  • National Campaign: Launch a sustained public education campaign to change norms, reduce stigma, and promote healthy relationships.
  • Survivor Leadership: Ensure survivors are at the center of policy development, implementation, and evaluation.

7. Conclusion: Our Commitment​

Gender-based violence is not inevitable. It is the result of policy choices, cultural norms, and systemic failures that can—and must—be changed. Our party is committed to bold, evidence-based action to end all forms of gender-based violence and abuse. We will not allow the Supreme Court, regressive administrations, or entrenched interests to turn back the clock on equality and safety. Together, we will create a future where everyone can live free from fear, violence, and discrimination.

References​