As part of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the landmark Violence Against Women Act, the White House is set to announce new efforts to address online harassment and abuse, and to help ease housing issues that many survivors of domestic violence face when trying to escape abusers.
The Violence Against Women Act was championed by President Joe Biden when he was a U.S. senator. It was the first comprehensive federal law focused on addressing violence against women and providing support for survivors and justice. The law aimed to shift the national narrative around domestic violence, which was previously considered a private matter.
According to FBI statistics, between 1993 and 2022, domestic violence rates dropped by 67% and the rate of rapes and sexual assaults declined by 56%. President Biden, during a hearing in 1990, emphasized the importance of addressing the right of women to be free from the fear of attack based on their gender.
The Justice Department is announcing more than $690 million in grant funding to strengthen the law, including efforts to serve orders of protection electronically and strategies to combat online gender-based violence. Federal agencies are also reminding survivors of domestic violence living in federally funded homes of their housing rights, including the ability to request emergency housing transfers.
Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted the seriousness of these crimes and the need to improve access to justice, safety, and services for survivors. The White House gender policy adviser emphasized the ongoing work needed to prevent and end gender-based violence.
The Violence Against Women Act was reaffirmed in 2022, with a provision addressing the 'boyfriend loophole' that previously allowed convicted stalkers and dating partners to possess firearms. The provision was later included in bipartisan gun safety legislation signed by Congress, prohibiting individuals convicted of misdemeanor crimes in dating relationships from purchasing or possessing firearms for at least five years.
