ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Local advocates for women are asking Congress to reauthorize the "Violence Against Women Act" before it expires later this year.

Dozens gathered at the YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County, including Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-25).

Slaughter spoke on the importance of the act, which provides services to domestic violence survivors. She says the act has reduced cases of domestic violence by 67 percent since 1994.

The act was most recently reauthorized in 2013 to include immigrant, LGBTQ, and Native American populations.

"In the United States an average of 20 people are physically abused by their partner every minute and that's a shocking reminder of how far we still have to go," Slaughter said. "10 million victims are still physically assaulted, sexually assaulted, or stalked by an intimate partner every year. We are not going to stop fighting until that number is zero, but we won't get this done unless this law remains in place."

The current act expires in September but Slaughter says they want to get it reauthorized as soon as possible.