OVC Director Kristina Rose, Deputy Director Catherine Pierce, and Special Advisor on Gender & Equality Carrie Bettinger-Lopez attended the signing of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization at the White House today.
This legislation, included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, reauthorizes VAWA through 2027 and will help protect and support victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking, including individuals from underserved communities.
In his remarks about the VAWA Reauthorization, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland states,
“The Department of Justice welcomes the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and will continue to use the resources at our disposal to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and provide critical services for survivors.”
The VAWA Reauthorization—
- recognizes expanded jurisdiction for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes,
- intends to close gaps in federal sex crimes statutes and promote accountability for law enforcement officers,
- enhances efforts to reduce homicides through enforcement of federal and state firearms laws, and
- improves access to justice for survivors by expanding grant funding for legal services and authorizing post-conviction legal assistance.
Read more about VAWA’s Reauthorization
First passed in 1994, VAWA grant programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).