Young Men Need to Stand Against Violence Against Women, Says Biden

Vice President Joe Biden Friday urged young men to intervene when they see violence taking place against women.

Speaking at a meeting of the Democratic National Committee's women's leadership forum, Biden said that the government would put in continuous efforts to make young men understand that it is cowardly not to help women in trouble.

Later, Biden attended a roundtable discussion to mark the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. He was invited by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, whose sister was killed in 2002 in a domestic violence situation.

"You have an absolute obligation to intervene when you see violence taking place. That's manhood. That's being a man." Biden repeated his message at the occasion, reports the Associated Press.

He also said that without the consent of a woman, no man has the right to touch her.

"We can change this culture," he said, reports The Denver Post.

Though the U.S. Department of Justice figures reveal an overall decrease in the violence against women, the numbers stay high for women in the age group of 14-24.

Biden, who pushed the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, said that a one in five college woman is estimated to be a victim of some kind of violence in the U.S.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said that around 400 incidents of domestic violence are reported in Denver  yearly.

"We know there are probably twice as many cases that do not get reported," he said, reports The Denver Post.

Hancock said that they were trying to start a one- stop centre to help domestic violence victims. Though this, the victims will get counseling, legal help, assistance in searching for jobs and other services from a single location, he said.