"For most of 2012, House Republicans balked at the Senate’s attempt to expand protections for Native Americans, illegal immigrants and victims within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Some have since shifted their support in favor of the latter two groups.

The sticking point remains tribal jurisdiction — whether to allow tribal courts to seek due process when an individual who is not Native American commits domestic and sexual crimes against Native Americans on their land.

Women in this relatively isolated population must face dismal statistics: a one-in-three chance of getting raped in their lifetimes. They are twice as likely to be sexually assaulted compared with the national average. Thirty-nine percent of Native American women suffer domestic abuse.

Such atrocities have occurred within Washington state’s 29 federally recognized tribes. A culture of silence persists. Justice eludes the victims. Prosecution is rare. "

Get the Story:
Editorial: Congress must use its power to protect women from rape, abuse (The Seattle Times 1/5)

Another Opinion:
Editorial: Heed the need for safety (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 1/6)

Related Stories:
Opinion: House Republicans remain determined to ignore women (1/4)
Tribal provisions of Violence Against Women Act die in House (1/3)
Feature: Native women fight back against domestic violence (1/2)
Opinion: House GOP protects white men from tribal prosecution (12/21)
Lise Balk King: Indian women need protections with VAWA bill (12/19)
Anderson Law: Republican VAWA bill a deal breaker for tribes (12/19)
Brian Paterson: Indian women need protections from violence (12/14)
NCAI remains hopeful on legislation to protect Indian women (12/13)
Salon: Abusers get away with violence against Indian women (12/13)
Opinion: Native women still waiting on Congress to take action (12/12)
Rep. Darrell Issa introduces Violence Against Indian Women Act (12/4)
NCAI optimistic on a land-into-trust fix, VAWA during lame-duck (11/09)