Lifetime Television Teams up With Bi-Partisan Members of Congress and Advocacy Organizations for First-Ever 'Stop Violence Week in Washington'

- Week Brings Leading Advocacy Organizations and Women Directly Affected by Violence Together with Political Leaders for a Special Congressional Women's Caucus Briefing and Other Capitol Hill Events -

- Throughout Week, Lifetime Airs Voices of Over 50 Members of Congress Discussing Importance of Stopping Violence Against Women to Bring Issue Home To Viewers in 84 Million Households -

NEW YORK, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifetime Television is bringing its new campaign -- "Our Lifetime Commitment: Stop Violence Against Women" -- to Washington, D.C., from March 4 through March 8. "Stop Violence Week in Washington" is the first-ever week when the voices in the anti-violence community will come together on Capitol Hill to make ending violence against women a national priority and to commemorate International Women's Day. Through a series of events and activities coordinated with the Congressional Women's Caucus and other bi-partisan Members of Congress, Lifetime is putting a national spotlight -- on-air, online and in the halls of power -- on the vast problems of domestic violence and sexual assault, both in America and around the world.

On-air, throughout the week, Lifetime is airing vignettes featuring over 50 leading Members of Congress and advocates talking about the importance of stopping violence against women. The vignettes include a wide range of voices on this issue, such as: Minority Leader Dick Gephardt; Senators Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-DE), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Paul Wellstone (D-MN), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Tim Hutchinson (R-AR); Representatives Judy Biggert (R-IL), Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Connie Morella (R-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and advocates Scott Berkowitz of RAINN, Ellie Smeal of the Feminist Majority and Kim Gandy of NOW.*

In Washington, the highlights of the week include: a powerful exhibit on Capitol Hill spotlighting the advocates and policymakers working on the frontlines to stop violence; co-hosted by Comcast, a reception and premiere screening of Lifetime's Original Movie "We Were the Mulvaneys" (based on the Joyce Carole Oates' acclaimed novel, airing on Lifetime on April 8); a UNIFEM/USA "We Walk So They Can Read" event to support the empowerment of women and girls in Afghanistan; a Congressional briefing organized by the Congressional Women's Caucus where dozens of advocates and victims of violence will testify; a Senate meeting with advocates hosted by Senators Biden, Boxer, Clinton, Mikulski and Wellstone; and events in Members' districts and states on International Women's Day. Members will take the floor during the week to rally their colleagues on the issue and to work toward passage of a Senate and a House resolution officially designating March 8th as International Women's Day and highlighting several violence issues. (See Schedule of Events Below)

To launch the week, an action kit will be delivered to each Member of Congress' offices to give them tools and resources to get involved in "Stop Violence Week in Washington" activities. Each kit includes a special Liz Claiborne-designed tie or scarf that Members of Congress and advocates will wear during the week to show their solidarity to stop violence against women.

"Too many women live in fear, threatened by violence, simply because of their gender. This shadow of repression is unacceptable -- and the women of Congress are teaming up with Lifetime Television to help do something about it," said U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues. "We've listened to women in Illinois and across the country share their stories of pain and hope, of desperation and of redemption. Through this groundbreaking week of activities to raise awareness of violence against women, the United States Congress is sending a clear message to young girls and women alike: this cycle of abuse can and must end."

"The best way to deal with this terrible problem is to stop violence before it starts and that is why the women of the House of Representatives have teamed up with Lifetime to Stop Violence Against Women," said U.S. Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues.

During "Stop Violence Week in Washington," Lifetime and Penn and Schoen will release a revealing national survey on violence against women. The poll, of 500 adults, will shed new light on Americans' attitudes and understanding of violence against women.

"Stop Violence Week in Washington" is part of the first comprehensive campaign by a television network to stop violence against women, which Lifetime launched in February and includes extensive community outreach and online and on-air programming, including: specially-themed episodes of Lifetime's acclaimed original dramas; "Fear No More," a documentary hosted by Brooke Shields and produced by Academy award-nominated Maysles Films; and PSAs. The power of the Network's reach was demonstrated when, on February 17, the anti-violence episodes of the Sunday night line-up of "The Division," "Strong Medicine" and "Any Day Now" garnered Lifetime's highest rated Sunday in six years. Every aspect of the campaign offers important information and resources on where survivors of violence and their loved ones can turn for the support they need, reminding them about two key life-saving resources, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-SAFE, tty number: 1-800-737-3224) and the RAINN rape-crisis hotline (800-656-HOPE).

Lifetime has forged unprecedented partnerships with leading non-profit organizations to launch this campaign, including: V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls; the National Domestic Violence Hotline; Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN); the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV); the Family Violence Prevention Fund; the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence; Bahai; Safe Horizon; NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund; the Ms. Foundation for Women; and the YWCA of the USA -- all of which Lifetime has worked closely with for several years on other anti-violence public awareness efforts.

Lifetime's campaign builds on the Network's history of national and local outreach to inform and support women on a range of issues affecting them and their families. Lifetime's award-winning public affairs efforts also include initiatives focused on raising breast cancer awareness, promoting the need for quality, affordable childcare and building self-esteem among women and girls.

LIFETIME is the #1 cable television network in primetime and the leader in women's television. LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Launched in 1984, LIFETIME serves over 84 million households nationwide, available on more than 11,000 cable systems and alternative delivery systems. LIFETIME launched a 24-hour sister service, the Lifetime Movie Network, in 1998, and a second sister service, Lifetime Real Women, launched in August 2001. On the web, Lifetime Online (http://www.lifetimetv.com) features informational resources and interactive entertainment. All four services, LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Online, are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

*Complete List of Members of Congress interviewed available.

STOP VIOLENCE WEEK IN WASHINGTON EVENTS, MARCH 4-8

Speak Out on Violence: March 4-8

Throughout the week, Lifetime will bring the issue home to its viewers in 84 million households by airing special vignettes with over 50 Members of Congress talking about the views on the importance of stopping violence against women. The vignettes will direct viewers to lifetimetv.com to find out more about the week and how to get involved. The vignettes will air every hour, from 10am to 6pm.

Speak Out: March 4-8

A powerful exhibit featuring the voices and images, of advocates and policymakers on the frontlines, working to stop violence against women. Location: Starting in the Rayburn House Office Building, March 4 and 5.

Action Kit Delivery: March 4

Lifetime is delivering a Stop Violence Against Women Action Kit to all Members of Congress. The kit includes: a special tie or scarf designed by Liz Claiborne; laminated wallet cards in English and Spanish with lifesaving information of the RAINN Hotline; the National Domestic Violence Hotline and 911 in case of emergency; an educational tool that will go to 43,000 high schools and rape crisis centers to help teachers and health counselors address the subject of rape and sexual assault with students and young people; and several other items to help each Senator and Representative join in the efforts of the week.

Members of Congress Speak Out and Take Action: March 6

Members of Congress are scheduled to do one-minutes and floor speeches, rallying to pass a Senate and House resolution that officially recognizes International Women's Day with an emphasis on the need to address violence against women in America and around the world. Time: TBD (check Congressional schedules), Location: House and Senate floors

UNIFEM/USA Spring Walk for Afghanistan: March 6

As part of "Stop Violence Week in Washington," UNIFEM/USA (United States Committee for the United Nations Development Fund for Women) is launching its "We Walk So They Can Read" series of spring walks around the country to support the empowerment of women and girls in Afghanistan. Led by Rep. Connie Morella and Rep. Louise Slaughter, Members of Congress will walk to the Capitol steps to show their solidarity with Afghan women. Visit http://www.uscommitteeforunifem.org for more information on the initiative. Time: TBD, Location: Walk to the Capitol steps

Reception and Premiere Screening of "We Were the Mulvaneys": March 6

On the evening of March 6, Lifetime and Comcast host a reception and screening of "We Were the Mulvaneys," a Lifetime Original Movie (airing on April 8) based on the acclaimed novel by Joyce Carol Oates, starring Blythe Danner, Beau Bridges and Tammy Blanchard. Members of Congress, leading advocates and two of the film's stars, Beau Bridges and Tammy Blanchard*, will be on hand for this powerful evening and movie about how violence against women can tear a family apart. Time: 6:30 p.m., Location: B. Smith's in Union Station, 55 Massachusetts Ave. NE (*invited)

Congressional Briefing: March 7

The Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues is holding a special briefing during which leading advocates, celebrity activists and victims of violence will testify on the continuing needs of the community and the solutions to help stop violence against women. Time: 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Location: Gold Room, Rayburn House Office Building

Senate Reception for Advocates: March 7

Senators Biden, Boxer, Clinton, Mikulski, Wellstone and others host a reception for leading advocates to discuss a range of issues with those leading the effort to stop violence against women in communities around the country. Time: 4:00 p.m., Location: TBD

International Women's Day Events Around the Country: March 8

Lifetime Television in collaboration with RAINN developed education kits addressing the topic of rape. Lifetime will distribute these kits in over 41,000 schools and rape crisis centers across the country. Members may use these kits or hold other Stop Violence Against Women events in their districts to commemorate the week and International Women's Day.