~~Action Alert~~
Dear Sisters and Allies,
We are asking for your help in addressing the health care needs of Indigenous women who suffer from sexual violence: Indigenous women of North American experience more violence than any other group of people in this country. More than 1 in 3 will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
The Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center, located in Lake Andes, SD among the Ihanktowan Dakota Nation (Yankton Sioux Tribe), has been working for over four years to have Indian Health Service adopt and implement standardized policies and protocols for sexual assault at Indian Health Service (I.H.S.) emergency rooms, direct health care facilities and contract health care. The I.H.S. emergency room, for women that live on reservations, is usually the first place they go for services after a sexual assault. An essential part of our proposed protocols is that every I.H.S. emergency room, direct care health facility and contract health care facility have a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) on staff.
A vital need for Indigenous women's well being is the proper care after a rape: Our biggest health care barrier is that many Indian Health Service (I.H.S.) nurses and doctors are not properly trained in the use of a police rape kit, thus evidence of the crime is inadmissible for prosecution of the perpetrator(s). SANE/Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners are trained to administer the rape kit correctly so forensic evidence is collected properly and to ensure the rape kit is done in the most humane and respectful way for the victim. (The Indian Health Service is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides health care to Indigenous Nations and tribes of North America. Health care is an obligation of the U.S. government through legally binding treaties.)
The needs of Indigenous women who have been raped have been ignored or minimally addressed by Indian Health Service, even as the assaults have increased. We have endured sexual brutalization historically to this very day. Virginia Davis, associate counsel for the National Congress of American Indians said, "It' jaw dropping... We've been talking about this for years. I think this is an incredibly complicated problem. Most Americans can live their daily lives and never think about it." (From the Amnesty International report "Maze of Injustice: The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA") Larry Cox, Amnesty International Executive Director said, "It is disgraceful that such abuse exists today. Without immediate action, an already abysmal and outrageous situation for women could spiral even further out of control."
With your help in flooding Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt's office with emails or letters demanding that standardized sexual assault policies and protocols within Indian Health Service emergency rooms be immediately addressed we could realize substantial progress in this effort. You may email to: ml.05@hhs.gov or write to:
Secretary Mike Leavitt
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, Room S.W., Room 615F
Washington, DC 20201
And request that Indian Health Service adopt and implement standardized Sexual Assault Policies and Protocols for I.H.S. Emergency. This healthcare crisis must be addressed with great urgency for the well being of Indigenous women.
For more information on the policies and protocols you can google
YouTube, and type in NCAI in the search box, this will take you to the DVD we produced on the Sexual Assault Policies and Protocols for Indian Health Service Emergency Rooms.
Findings from a Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center report produced in 2005 of Indian Health Service Emergency Rooms include:
-30% of the Service Units surveyed do not have Sexual Assault Protocols in place.
-Although 70% do protocols, the percentage of Service Units with a protocol posted and accessible to staff members is only 56%. The statistics reflect a discrepancy between policy and practice.
-44% of the Indian Health Service facilities surveyed lack trained personnel to perform emergency services in the event of a rape. This means that there are no SANE/Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners in place to do a rape kit.
-With out a police rape kit there is no forensic evidence collected which means no convictions. The perpetrator is free to perpetrate again, and does.
-Travel distance for women to Indian Health Service Units to get a rape kit done are vast. In the Albuquerque area the average distance a woman has to travel to get a rape kit done after a rape is 150 miles. In Alaska the distance is unbelievable. This means that women often cannot even get a rape kit done.
Should Indian Health Service adopt and implement standardized sexual assault policies and protocols for their Emergency Rooms with trained SANE in place we would see a reduction in the number of repeated rapes within our communities by having the evidence to get some of these perpetrators prosecuted. It all starts with the proper collection of evidence.
The policies and protocols would also insure that Native women could access the same standard of service that other women receive in the general population. Such as routine STD screening, Pep, EC if wanted, etc. This is currently not happening.
Nina Wopida Tanka (great thanks) for your help in ending sexual violence against Indigenous women of North America.
Respectfully,
Charon Asetoyer, Executive Director
Native American Women's
Health Education Resource Center
PO Box 572
Lake Andes, SD 57356
605.487.7072
charon@charles-mix.com
We ask you that you send a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt demanding that the Sexual Assault Policies and Protocols are implemented. You can cut and paste segments from this letter for your e-mail.
ACTION CARD
Dear HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt,
I am writing to you with great concern that Indian Health Service does not have standardized sexual assault policies and protocols for I.H.S. Emergency Rooms.
It is of the utmost importance that this grievous void in health care services be corrected for the protection and well being of all Indigenous people who utilize I.H.S, direct care facilities and contract health care facilities.
According to Department of Justice statistics, rape in American Indian and Alaska Native populations is 3.5 times higher than among all other racial groups.
“American Indians and Alaska Natives suffered 7 rapes or sexual assaults per 1,000...” (American Indians and Crime, 1999).
44% of Indian Health Service emergency rooms reported not having and accessible protocol, or trained personnel in place for sexual assault (Survey of Sexual Assault Policies and Protocols Within HIS Emergency Rooms - 2005).
I urge you to have I.H.S. implement standardized policies and protocols in I.H.S. Emergency Rooms to ensure appropriate health care of women and children who are sexually assaulted. The adoption of these policies would reduce the number of sexual assaults in our communities.
Please view “Violence Against Women Is Against The Law” video:
http://www.youtube.com (type ncai in the search box) for further
Information about sexual assault policies and protocols.
Respectfully,
Your Name: ______________________________________