| Wisconsin – American Indians Against Abuse (AIAA), Black and Brown Womyn Power Coalition (BBWPC), End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin (End Abuse), and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA) announce the launch of the Long Range Plan to address sexual and domestic violence. The 2023-2029 Long-Range Plan for Wisconsin reflects domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) programs’ reflections on the current state of the movement, and it lays out a vision for the future. This plan is being released during a funding crisis; the Joint Finance Committee have, over the past two weeks, made the terrible decision to cut the significant increases in funding for sexual assault and domestic violence services proposed by Governor Evers. This will have devesting consequences as programs are facing significant cuts in critical federal funding sources. These changes further highlight what sexual assault and domestic violence advocates have reported for decades: there is not enough funding to meet the basic needs of victims and survivors in Wisconsin. Through this plan’s development, stakeholders reflected on historical trends, identified present needs, and engaged with emerging ideas and practices to define the direction of anti-violence work in the state. The plan will help focus priorities for services to address domestic violence and sexual assault as service providers and key stakeholders collectively imagine and co-create a violence-free future. The plan marks a significant departure from the past to prioritize work to end sexual assault, which has not historically been included in previous Long-Range Plans. Including WCASA and sexual assault in the development of the plan underscores the critical importance of distinct sexual assault services and prevention in Wisconsin. Six themes emerged as priorities: demand intersectionality, confront racism and oppression, embed transformative justice, center the experience of those most impacted by violence, specifically BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ communities; redefine the role of advocate and prioritize sexual assault. The report is being shared by these coalitions widely to let anyone interested in ending sexual and domestic violence know that they have the power and specific guidance to transform communities by finding opportunities to move these recommendations forward in personal, professional, and political spheres of influence. All involved in the plan’s development affirm that survivors’ safety, and lives, are at stake. The plan is available at www.antiviolencewi.org |