President Joe Biden is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, which he helped write and introduce in 1990 during his time as a US senator. The president hosted an event at the White House with nearly 1,000 survivors, advocates, and allies to mark the occasion. In an op-ed, Biden highlighted the progress made over the past 30 years and emphasized the importance of bringing awareness to domestic violence and ending the stigma around it.
As Biden nears the end of his presidency, he is focusing on reinforcing key legacy items from his time in office. The Violence Against Women Act is a significant legislative accomplishment for Biden, providing historic protections and support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Former Senator Barbara Boxer, who worked with Biden on the legislation, praised his efforts in bringing the issue of violence against women out of the shadows and pushing for cultural change.
The Biden administration is rolling out new measures to combat gender-based violence to coincide with the anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. The Justice Department announced $690 million in grant funding to support survivors of gender-based violence, created the Office on Gender-Based Violence at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and funded the National Resource Center on Cybercrimes Against Individuals to combat cyberstalking and other forms of technology-facilitated abuse. Technology companies have also made voluntary commitments to combat image-based sexual abuse.
Biden introduced the Violence Against Women Act in 1990 with the goals of making streets and homes safer for women and protecting women’s civil rights. As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden held hearings on domestic violence to raise awareness and change attitudes about the issue. The legislation transformed protections and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, creating the National Domestic Violence Hotline and providing grants for programs aiding survivors and training for law enforcement.
With each reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, Biden and supporters have worked to expand its coverage to include dating violence, individuals of any sexual orientation or gender identity, immigrants, and communities of color. The bill expired in 2019 but was reauthorized in 2022 with new protections for LGBTQ+ survivors, individuals in tribal communities, and rural areas, as well as provisions to address online harassment and abuse. Biden’s commitment to addressing violence against women is rooted in the values instilled by his family and his belief in ending the abuse of power.
Biden’s dedication to addressing violence against women dates back to his early political career and has been shaped by his collaboration with female lawmakers and advocates on the Violence Against Women Act. The legislation has been a key priority for Biden throughout his presidency, and he has worked to strengthen and expand its protections through bipartisan support. As he nears the end of his time in office, Biden continues to push for lasting change in combating gender-based violence and supporting survivors.
