The 20th Anniversary of VAWA

NJDC Intern — September 12, 2014 – 10:41 am | Women's Leadership Network | Congress | Democrats | Domestic Policy | Women's Issues Comments (0) Add a comment

This Saturday marks 20 years since the landmark domestic violence legislation, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), was signed into law. VAWA signified an important departure from the previous ways the United States government and the American public approached domestic violence. Prior to the passage of VAWA, domestic violence was considered a private issue, rarely discussed and viewed as beyond the public purview of law enforcement officers.

VAWA increased police intervention in domestic violence disputes and enhanced repercussions in the criminal justice system. The act also recognized the physical and psychological trauma survivors of domestic violence suffer and provided better resources and access to support for survivors. Jewish teachings instruct that we have a commitment to save and protect lives. Domestic violence legislation like VAWA fulfills this commitment.

In 2013, President Barack Obama signed the reauthorization of VAWA with Vice President Joe Biden by his side. Biden is the original legislative champion of VAWA, and the act is often viewed as the hallmark legislation of his career in the United States Senate.

From 1993 to 2010, the rate of intimate partner violence decreased 67 percent. More women are reporting acts of domestic and sexual violence and more arrests and criminal proceedings are occurring as a result. Every single state has reformed state laws to ensure survivors of domestic violence achieve justice.

While VAWA has made significant contributions to reduce acts of domestic violence, recent news reports highlight that the fight to end domestic violence is ongoing.

Ray Rice, the now former Baltimore Ravens running-back, was indefinitely suspended from the National Football League after the full video of him physically assaulting his wife surfaced online. The whirlwind of news following the video’s release ignited important conversations about domestic violence in America.

The Rice debacle proves that domestic violence is an ongoing issue and not all acts of violence against women can be caught on tape. More steps must be taken to combat domestic violence.

In a recent interview with the Today Show, Vice President Biden reflected on Rice’s attack against his wife and broader domestic violence in America.

““It’s never, never, never the woman’s fault,” he said. “This whole culture, for so long, has put the onus on the woman. What were you wearing? What did you say? What did you do to provoke? That is never the appropriate question.”

Biden also used the opportunity to look forward on the crusade against domestic violence, specifically looking to combat violence against women on college campuses.

“The next challenge is making sure we get college presidents and colleges to understand that they have a responsibility for the safety of women on their campus. They have a responsibility to do what we know from great experience works: bringing in the experts. Provide people. Give the young woman the support that she needs: the psychological support, the medical support, and if need be, the legal support.”

This summer, Congress introduced bipartisan legislation to combat increased sexual assaults on college campuses and many democratic policymakers have affirmed their commitment to combat domestic and sexual violence.

“Societal changes [are] taking place,” Biden emphasized. “It takes time. But I really believe it’s taking root, and we have an obligation to just keep pushing it.”

This September 13, 2014, it is important to celebrate the many achievements in fighting domestic violence in the past 20 years, and also to recognize progress still must be made to ensure violence against women ends.  

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