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NNEDV Applauds NFL’s New Plan to Address Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault

August 28, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NNEDV Communications Team (Communications@NNEDV.org)

Washington, DC – The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) applauds and welcomes the newly released National Football League (NFL) action plan to address domestic violence and sexual assault.

“NNEDV and victim advocates were shocked this summer at the league’s two-game suspension of a player who had knocked his girlfriend unconscious,” said Kim Gandy, NNEDV President & CEO. “Today we are pleased and heartened by the NFL’s serious plan to proactively address violence against women.”

In a letter to team owners and all personnel, NFL Commission Roger Goodell acknowledged that he “didn’t get it right” in handling the Ray Rice domestic violence assault and outlined the NFL’s plan to address their internal workplace policies (including education of all personnel on domestic violence and resources for players and their families); player discipline after an assault; outreach to children and youth through college, high school and youth football programs; and broader social change work through public service awareness-raising activities.

“Millions of boys and young men look up to star athletes as role models, heroes and the very definition of masculinity,” continued Gandy. “There’s no question that the NFL’s proactive stance, and their leadership in the public sphere, will make a real impact on our efforts to end domestic abuse.”

NNEDV will continue to work with the NFL in its ongoing efforts to address and prevent violence against women.

“Commissioner Goodell acknowledged his mistake, took ownership of it, and is determined to make the NFL a model for the nation in addressing these complex issues,” said Gandy. “This is a huge step, and we are proud to work with the NFL toward ending violence against women.”

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The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) represents the 56 state and U.S. territorial coalitions against domestic violence. NNEDV is a social change organization working to create a social, political, and economic environment in which domestic violence no longer exists. NNEDV works to make domestic violence a national priority, change the way society responds to domestic violence, and strengthen domestic violence advocacy at every level.