Hennepin County addresses domestic violence and survivor support at summit – CBS News

Report on Domestic Violence Initiatives in Hennepin County in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A summit held in Hennepin County addressed the critical issue of domestic violence, which claimed the lives of 24 individuals in Minnesota last year. This local initiative directly aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the face of significant federal funding cuts to victim support services. The event, led by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Domestic Abuse Service Center, focused on enhancing survivor access to resources and fostering community-wide prevention efforts.

Alignment with SDG 5: Gender Equality

The initiative is a direct response to the targets outlined in SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

• Target 5.2: The primary goal is to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The 24 fatalities represent a severe failure to meet this target, underscoring the urgency of the county’s actions.
• Awareness and Action: The summit served as a crucial platform to raise public awareness and mobilize collective action against gender-based violence, a fundamental barrier to achieving equality.

Strengthening SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The report highlights the role of local institutions in providing justice and support, a cornerstone of SDG 16.

1. Access to Justice: The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Domestic Abuse Service Center are vital institutions working to fulfill SDG Target 16.3 by promoting the rule of law and ensuring survivors have equal access to justice.
2. Institutional Challenges: The reduction in federal funding poses a significant threat to the strength and efficacy of these organizations. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty described the cuts as “tragic,” directly impacting the institutional capacity to protect vulnerable populations and reduce violence as per SDG Target 16.1.

Addressing SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The provision of comprehensive support services addresses interconnected goals related to health and social equity.

• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: By connecting survivors with lifesaving support, the program directly contributes to promoting mental and physical health, a key component of SDG 3.
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Siri Lokensgard, Director of the Domestic Abuse Service Center, stressed the importance of culturally competent services. This focus on providing support that reflects the community, including language and cultural understanding, is a direct effort to reduce inequalities and ensure inclusive access for all survivors, in line with SDG Target 10.2.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The collaborative nature of the summit exemplifies the principles of SDG 17, which calls for partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

• Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: The event successfully brought together government bodies, community partners, and local advocates, creating a unified front to tackle domestic violence.
• Shared Responsibility: The concluding message that preventing abuse is “everyone’s business” reinforces the concept of a broad, inclusive partnership and shared responsibility essential for the successful implementation of the SDGs.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article’s central theme is domestic violence, with a specific focus on victims killed by intimate partners. This directly addresses the goal of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. The poem “I Got Flowers Today” and the report from Violence Free Minnesota highlight the cycle of abuse predominantly affecting women.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article discusses the response of the justice system and support services, such as the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Domestic Abuse Service Center. It emphasizes the need for prosecuting abuse, providing access to justice for survivors, and building effective community partnerships to prevent violence. The reduction of violence is a core component of this goal.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article points out the necessity for domestic abuse services to be accessible and culturally competent. The statement, “work with someone who looks like them, speaks their language or understands the different cultural barriers,” directly addresses the need to ensure equal access to support for all individuals, regardless of their background, thereby reducing inequalities.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article highlights both the importance of collaboration and the challenges in funding. The summit’s purpose of “bring[ing] a lot of community partners together” exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to address complex issues. Conversely, the mention of shrinking federal funding for victim support organizations points to challenges in the financial means of implementation for these goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
   • The article is entirely focused on this target. It quantifies the lethal outcome of intimate partner violence (“24 victims were killed”) and describes efforts by local leaders and advocates to “stop domestic violence.”
2. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The report from Violence Free Minnesota, which states that 24 victims were killed by intimate partners, is a direct measure related to reducing violence-related death rates. The entire summit is aimed at addressing this crisis.
3. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • The involvement of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the emphasis on “prosecuting” abuse underscore the rule of law. The summit’s goal to “make sure people in the community who are experiencing domestic violence understand that there’s help” is about ensuring access to justice and support systems.
4. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
   • The call for services that “reflect the communities they serve” and address “cultural barriers” directly relates to ensuring equal opportunity and access to support, which helps reduce inequalities of outcome for victims from diverse backgrounds.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator related to SDG Target 16.1 (Reduce violence and death rates):
   • The article provides a specific data point: “At least 24 victims were killed by intimate partners in Minnesota last year.” This number serves as a direct indicator of the rate of lethal domestic violence, aligning with Indicator 16.1.1 (Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population).
2. Indicator related to SDG Target 16.3 (Ensure access to justice):
   • The article implies an indicator through its focus on access. The statement that the summit’s purpose is to “make sure people in the community…understand that there’s help” suggests that the number or proportion of survivors accessing services like the Domestic Abuse Service Center could be used as a measure of progress.
3. Indicator related to SDG Target 17 (Partnerships/Finance):
   • The article implies a financial indicator by stating that “federal funding is shrinking” and organizations are recipients of “tremendous cuts.” The amount of public funding allocated to services for victims of domestic violence can be used as an indicator to measure the commitment to implementing these goals.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbsnews.com