Data Shows that Crimes Against Women has Increased During Covid-19 Pandemic

Mark Wynn, national law enforcement trainer against domestic violence, will headline the 17^th annual Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW) held at the Sheraton Hotel in Dallas, Texas from May 23-26, 2022. Presented by Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support and the Dallas Police Department, the Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW) is a national clearinghouse for training on the identification, investigation and prosecution of all types of violent crimes against women, including domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking. The Conference is the largest of its kind with more than 25,000 attendees over the last 17 years from all 50 states and multiple countries.

This year, attendees will have the opportunity to choose from more than 200 engaging and timely workshops to gain tools that they can take with them and implement in their own communities.

“According to the World Bank, before the COVID-19 pandemic began, 1 in 3 women experienced physical or sexual violence mostly by an intimate partner,” said Jan Langbein, Chief Executive Officer of CCAW and Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support. “Data shows an increase in calls to domestic violence helplines across the country, including at our own agency, since the outbreak of COVID-19 making our mission more critical than ever. As we return to an in-person conference we are honored to host Mark Wynn as our keynote speaker and learn from his personal and professional experience.”

Wynn, who will present during the Opening Plenary on Monday, May 23 at 8:00 a.m., is a national trainer to law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, legislators, healthcare professionals, and victim advocates in all 50 states for over 40 years. An international lecturer at police academies all over the world, he is also a Fulbright specialist for the Department of State, and is, himself, a survivor of domestic violence. Today, Wynn’s work is devoted to ending domestic, sexual, elder, and child abuse as a former police officer, detective, educator, program supervisor, and now consultant and advisor.

Most recently, Wynn was featured in an autobiographical documentary depicting his family’s abuse as a child and their journey to healing, entitled, This Is the House Where I Learned Not to Sleep which will be previewed at the conference on Tuesday, May 24^th from 5:30- 7:00 pm. Bringing together producers, impact producers and filmmakers from the films, The Homestretch, Audrey & Daisy, Private Violence, and Bully, this project brings a unique depth to challenging perceptions of violence against women. This project was supported, in part, by Cindy Waitt and The Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention, Kind World Foundation, Chicago Media Project and The Nathan Cummings Foundation.

The goal of the Conference on Crimes Against Women is to create an overall reduction in the rate of crimes against women and, ultimately, eliminate violence against women. Domestic violence is so pervasive and at such epidemic proportions, that tangible decreases in the rate of violence against women will not be seen until huge volumes of women are safer in their homes. This volume happens through culture shifts, and conferences like CCAW create the momentum and the network for that very culture shift.

Classes are taught at CCAW with the intention of not only educating attendees, but also equipping them with the necessary tools to convey information to their departments and colleagues, thereby systematically improving agencies and increasing collective skill and competency levels. Ultimately, this training facilitates improvement of policies, practices, strategies, and collaborative responses to all crimes against women.

For additional information about the Conference or to register, please visit www.conferencecaw.org.

About the Conference on Crimes Against Women:

The goal of the Conference on Crimes Against Women is absolutely to create an overall reduction in the rate of crimes against women and, ultimately, eliminate violence against women. It is also, however, a primary part of our mission to improve the way crimes against women are investigated and prosecuted, as well as to improve the way victims are treated throughout the criminal justice system. The problem of domestic violence is so pervasive and at such epidemic proportions, that tangible decreases in the rate of violence against women will not be seen until huge volumes of women are safer in their homes. This volume happens through culture shifts, and conferences like CCAW create the momentum and the network for that very culture shift. For additional information about the Conference, please visit www.conferencecaw.org.

About Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support:

Since opening its doors in 1985, Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support has provided safety, shelter and expert counseling services to women and children who have experienced domestic violence. Genesis is committed to removing every roadblock a woman might face on her journey to the abuse-free life she deserves. These life-changing services include an emergency shelter, long-term housing, an award-winning onsite, K-12 school, daycare, access to legal representation and cutting-edge therapeutics. Genesis serves more than 3,700 women and children each year, and relies on the generous support of the Dallas community to continue providing these services at no cost to clients. For more information, visit www.genesisshelter.org.

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