15 Years of VAWA

In September 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was the first law to create a comprehensive response to end violence against women.  President Obama celebrated 15 years of VAWA by issuing a presidential proclamation on Sept 14, 2009.  In addition to highlighting how VAWA has improved communities' responses to violence against women, the proclamation also highlights areas for improvement, including increased access to services:

"Despite this great progress, our Nation's work remains unfinished. More families and communities must recognize that the safety of our children relates directly to the safety of our mothers. Access to sexual assault services, especially in rural America, must be increased. American Indian and Alaska Native women experience the highest rates of violence, and we must make it a priority to address this urgent problem. We must also work with diverse communities to make sure the response to violence is relevant and culturally appropriate. We must prevent the homicide of women and girls who have suffered from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking."

Vice President Biden, who wrote VAWA, stated:

"We’ve made tremendous progress since the Violence Against Women Act first passed in 1994, but we have much more to do. We cannot rest. It will take all of us to fulfill the promise to end domestic violence and sexual assault."