Who Will Find Missing Women and Girls?

In my thirty-year career working to end violence against women and girls,, I have frequently worked alongside law enforcement.  It is someth...

In my thirty-year career working to end violence against women and girls,, I have frequently worked alongside law enforcement.  It is something that I will always be proud of because it was always in service to women and girls. 

Always in service to families.

And, always in service to my community.  

An estimated 1/3 of all missing women and girls in the United States are Black and Brown women and girls.  

If we "defund the police" who will look for these women and girls?  

Who will solve the crimes against them? 

Who will hold the persons responsible for bringing harm to them accountable?

I remember chatting with a law enforcement officer about a time that he was racing through red lights to get to a "domestic" (domestic violence emergency).  I shared how I remembered hanging on for dear life in the passenger seat during a required ride-a-long for the same thing. 

I only did it once. For the police, racing to save people from someone making deadly threats is part of the job.

So......Who will respond to women being held at gunpoint by an angry partner?  While there are children in the home?

These are critical questions. The lives of women and children are important. 

Possible Solutions

It is true that there are a lot of problems with the current policing system that we have in place.  Sexism, issues with rape, issues with racism, police brutality, murdering citizens, citizen abuse, and failures around missing persons ......

A possible solution could be looking into what has been done with victim advocacy for domestic and sexual violence victims. Women's rights groups successfully worked to partner with law enforcement in working to respond to victims of domestic violence and/or sexual violence victims. This allowed victims to have the benefit of both trained and experienced police officers.

Simultaneously they have the service of a domestic violence advocate. A domestic violence victim advocate is a trained professional who provides support and assistance to individuals who have experienced domestic violence. They work closely with Survivors to help them navigate the legal and social services systems, understand their rights, and develop safety plans. 

They offer emotional support, help survivors access resources such as emergency housing, counseling, and legal aid, and educate them about domestic violence dynamics and available support options. 

Advocates often accompany survivors to court hearings or medical appointments and act as a liaison between survivors and other professionals or organizations involved in their case. Their ultimate goal is to empower survivors and assist them in breaking free from the cycle of domestic violence.  

We could potentially have conversations around having various mental health advocates and missing person advocates as well. These advocates could also be government-funded and work alongside law enforcement to better serve the public. 

 It could mean that we could build systems and structures that would serve, protect, and keep people with disabilities safer.  Further, we could also focus on locating more missing women and girls. While we're at it, we could continue to expand victim advocacy services for domestic and sexual violence victims throughout the country. 

Did you know....In 2016, nearly 1 million women survived being shot at by a loved....(Everytown for Gun Safety)

The police do not have to be our ONLY solution to crime. Still, we must begin building multiple solutions to crime that actually keep people safe.

 New documentary highlights plight of missing Black women and why their cases go ignored | PBS NewsHour

Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Keep Talking About This (video) | WE Survive Abuse

So, Who Centers Female Issues? | WE Survive Abuse