30 years of Violence Against Women Act progress celebrated through expanded resources and protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department has announced more than $690 million in grant funding through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to support services and justice responses for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking across the U.S., including in Tribal nations.

The funding marks the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the first comprehensive federal law aimed at preventing and addressing gender-based violence. First enacted in 1994, VAWA has been reauthorized several times, with each update expanding resources and protections for survivors.

“I was privileged to work on the passage of the original Violence Against Women Act thirty years ago — landmark legislation that transformed how our nation responds to domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Our country’s progress to prevent gender-based violence is not finished, but we have come a long way since 1994 thanks to the hard work of survivors, advocates, and members of law enforcement — including the women and men of the Justice Department — who work every day to hold perpetrators accountable and protect survivors. The grants we’re announcing today reaffirm our commitment to building safe communities for all, free from violence and fear.”

Since its creation, VAWA has supported a wide range of initiatives to enhance services for survivors and improve accountability for offenders. The law’s evolution reflects an increasing understanding of the complexities of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, as well as the need for comprehensive, community-based responses.

The newly announced funds will be distributed through several grant programs, including over $171 million for the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program, which supports a coordinated response among law enforcement, courts, and victim services in all 50 states and six U.S. territories. Additional grants will provide over $52 million for sexual assault services, $40 million for transitional housing, and $24 million to improve the criminal justice system's response to these crimes.

“The power of VAWA is that it is centered on the lived realities and leadership of survivors. By identifying what works well that can be expanded and enhanced, and identifying gaps and barriers, we can continue to improve VAWA and ensure that we are supporting all survivors, including those from historically marginalized communities and underserved populations who often face multiple barriers to services and safety,” OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo said.

OVW, established in 1995 to implement VAWA, continues to provide national leadership on these issues, distributing more than $11 billion in funding to states, territories, and Tribal nations. The new grants include funding for programs launched as part of the most recent VAWA reauthorization in 2022. These programs address emerging issues such as cybercrimes, including cyberstalking and non-consensual distribution of intimate images, while expanding support for restorative justice practices.

“We remain committed to making progress toward ending domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, and to ensuring that all survivors have multiple pathways to safety, services, healing, and justice,” Hidalgo said.

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