Dear NFBPWC Members and Allies,

I am thrilled and deeply honored to announce my appointment as Chair of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Committee for the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs (NFBPWC).

As a passionate advocate for women's empowerment and a survivor who has turned personal challenges into a platform for change, this role feels like a natural extension of my lifelong commitment to justice and equity. This is my first article in this capacity, and I couldn't be more excited to invite you to join me in this critical work. 

In the United States, GBV remains a pervasive crisis that affects millions, cutting across all demographics and impacting our workplaces, homes, and communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of women (45.1%) have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetimes, with 21% reporting completed or attempted rape.

One in four women and one in nine men face severe intimate partner violence, including physical abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as highlighted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV).

These statistics are staggering: In 2024 alone, nearly 30,000 women were killed by intimate partners globally, with the US contributing significantly to this toll through high rates of femicide and abuse.

The economic cost is equally devastating, intimate partner violence against women burdens US society with an estimated $12.1 billion annually in health costs and lost productivity (adjusted from 1995 figures). 

“One in four women and one in nine men face severe intimate partner violence, including physical abuse, sexual assault, or stalking."

As professional women, we know GBV doesn't stop at home, it infiltrates our workplaces, hindering career advancement and economic independence. NFBPWC has long championed policies that benefit working women, and our GBV Committee will build on this legacy by focusing on US-specific issues like the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), workplace protections against harassment, and support for survivors in professional settings. We'll advocate for stronger enforcement of laws, increased funding for shelters like those supported by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and education to prevent abuse in our communities.

My vision for the committee is collaborative and action-oriented: We'll host webinars, lobby for policy changes at state and federal levels, partner with organizations like the NNEDV, and create resources for BPW members to support survivors in their networks. We will also partner with global organizations because this is a universal problem. Whether you're a business leader, educator, or advocate, your voice matters in ending this epidemic.

I invite you to join the GBV Committee together, we can amplify survivor stories, push for equitable laws, and foster safer environments for all women. To get involved, email me at gbv@nfbpwc.org or visit NFBPWC's website for membership details. Let's turn awareness into action and build a future free from violence.

Warmly,

Sujata

Sujata Tiwari
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org