President Joe Biden reauthorizes Violence Against Women Act

This week, President Joe Biden signed in to law the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization act of 2022.

This act is part of the Omnibus appropriations package that has been passed by Congress. According to the White House, Biden had helped write the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) when he served as a U.S. Senator.

The Act had first been passed in 1994, and has been revamped in 200, 2005, and 2013. The goal of the legislation is to decrease incidents of domestic violence and sexual assault, and increase access to services, healing, and justice for survivors.

The reauthorization of VAWA will expand special jurisdiction of Tribal courts to cover non-Native perpetrators of various forms of assault and harassment. It will also increase services and support for survivors from underserved or marginalized communities.

The reauthorization will also establish a federal civil cause of action for those whose intimate visual images might be shared without their consent, allowing a person to recover damages and legal fees.

Overall, the reauthorization of VAWA will increase authorization levels. Current programs have been reauthorized through 2027. “It took time to change the culture, and you did it. You did it,” Biden said (CNN). “The only way we can change the culture was by shining an ugly, bright light on it and speaking its name.”