SENATE MEMORIAL 21

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Shannon D. Pinto

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE NAVAJO NATION TO REVIEW AND STUDY THE NEED FOR MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE NAVAJO NATION AND GAPS AND BARRIERS TO PROVIDING SERVICES.

 

     WHEREAS, in the United States, violence against indigenous women has reached unprecedented levels on tribal lands and Alaska Native villages; and

     WHEREAS, more than four out of five American Indian and Alaska Native women have reported that they have experienced violence, according to the Indian law resource center; and

     WHEREAS, with the devastation caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, shelter-in-place orders and people out of work, domestic violence calls have increased dramatically on the Navajo Nation; and

     WHEREAS, there are few dedicated resources for women and children affected by domestic violence, and those resources are often located at great distances from those who need them; and

     WHEREAS, facilities and funding for victims of sexual violence are not readily available to sustain needed services, including comprehensive care and mobile facilities with twenty-four-hour dedicated staff, examiners, advocates and nurses in addition to Indian health service hospitals and emergency rooms; and

     WHEREAS, currently, people experiencing domestic violence on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico have limited access to services provided by battered families services, incorporated, in Gallup and the home for women and children in Waterflow; and

     WHEREAS, to ensure the safety of domestic violence victims, information on the need for additional domestic violence infrastructure in the Navajo Nation is required; and

     WHEREAS, information on the gaps and barriers to providing services to people experiencing domestic violence on the Navajo Nation is also lacking; and

     WHEREAS, issues such as appropriate and accessible locations for additional domestic violence infrastructure need to be studied; and

     WHEREAS, the safety of residents of domestic violence shelters and that of surrounding neighbors must be taken into account when considering locations appropriate for locating domestic violence infrastructure;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the office of the governor, the children, youth and families department, the department of finance and administration and the Navajo Nation be requested to review and study the need for additional domestic violence infrastructure on the Navajo Nation and to identify gaps and barriers to providing services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that findings and conclusions of the review and study be presented to the interim committee that studies Indian affairs issues by November 1, 2021; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of children, youth and families, the secretary of finance and administration and the president and council members of the Navajo Nation council.

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