The National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women (NAC) was re-chartered on March 3, 2010, by the Attorney General . The purpose of this federal advisory committee is to provide advice and recommendations to the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services on how to improve the Nation’s response to violence against women, with a specific focus on successful interventions with children and teens who witness and/or are victimized by domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault.

Working to end violence in families and in communities remains one of the Attorney General’s highest priorities. Every year, millions of children and adolescents in the United States are victimized and exposed to violence in their homes and communities. Children and youth who are victims of, or witnesses to, violence often suffer severe long-term emotional and physical consequences. When these problems remain unaddressed, children are at higher risk for school failure, substance abuse, repeat victimization, and perhaps most tragically, perpetrating violent behavior later in their own lives.

The Attorney General’s goal for the NAC is to bring together experts, advocates, researchers, and criminal justice professionals for the exchange of innovative ideas and the development of practical solutions to help us address and prevent these serious problems. This federal advisory committee will develop recommendations for successful interventions with children and teens who witness and/or are victimized by domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault. The members will also examine the relationship between children and teens who are witnesses to or victims of such violence and the overall public safety of communities across the country. OVW Director Susan Carbon will serve as the designated federal official for the NAC.

NAC Charter

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women Meeting, January 28, 2011

National Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda, June 2, 2011
     Meeting Minutes (PDF)

Federal Register Notice of the National Advisory Committee Meeting, September 13-14th, 2011

Federal Register Notice of the National Advisory Committee Meeting, February 27-28, 2012

Dr. Jeffrey L. Edleson Professor and Director of Research University of Minnesota School of Social Work St. Paul, MN Ms. Maria Jose Fletcher Co-Director VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc Mr. Neil Irvin Executive Director Men Can Stop Rape Washington, D.C. Ms. Amber Rose Johnson Youth Advocate Providence, RI Ms. Monika Johnson Hostler Executive Director North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault Raleigh, NC Ms. Debbie Lee Senior Vice President Family Violence Prevention Fund San Francisco, CA Chief of Police Susan Manheimer San Mateo Police Department San Mateo, CA Ms. Francine Sherman, JD Clinical Professor Boston College Law School Newton, MA

Ms. Betsy McAlister Groves Director Child Witness to Violence Project Department of Pediatrics Boston Medical Center Boston, MA Ms. Carol Post Executive Director Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence Wilmington DE The Honorable Melvin Stoof Associate Judge Pascua Yaqui Tribal Court Tucson, AZ Mr. Joe Torre The Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation Chairman New York, NY Mr. Jerry Tello Director Sacred Circles; National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute Hacienda Heights, California Ms. Gabrielle Union Advocate Beverly Hills, CA Dr. Sujata Warrier Director New York City Program of the New York Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence New York, NY