Thank you, Rosie, for that generous introduction and for everything you do for VAWA and justice for violence against women. I am honored to welcome you to the Justice Department for the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Three decades ago, VAWA transformed our national response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Its enactment marked a paradigm shift in how we address and understand gender-based violence.
I was serving as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General when VAWA was enacted in 1994. In that role, I had a clear picture of how domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking were often handled in police stations, prosecutors’ offices, and courtrooms across the country.
As Attorney General Reno later described, many “representatives and participants in the criminal justice system looked at a domestic [violence] case and said, ‘That's a domestic,’ and [just turned their back on it.]”
That was so even though at the time, as Congress found, one-third of women murdered in America — approximately 4,000 per year — were murdered by present or former spouses or partners.
The same was true of sexual assault. During VAWA hearings, survivors and experts testified about the devastating effect of prevailing attitudes that distinguished between rape by a stranger compared to rape by an acquaintance, a date, or a partner — frequently putting the blame on the victim.
Congress found that women reported 100,000 rapes to law enforcement in 1990 — more than any previous year in American history. That figure was estimated to represent only a third of the true number. Another two-thirds of victims declined to report to police. Fewer than half of the reports resulted in arrests.
VAWA has helped change that perception and reality. The Act gave the federal government tools to intervene in a sphere previously largely within state and local enforcement's domain. It created new resources and authority to prevent and prosecute these crimes — and support survivors.
In doing so, it sent a message: gender-based and intimate-partner violence is not just a private matter but a national crisis our country would no longer tolerate.
Today officers, prosecutors, judges, families, and society at large understand what should have always been clear: domestic and dating violence; sexual assault; stalking are violent crimes. They cannot be ignored as somehow distinct or private. Today we recognize they are among our society's most serious crimes.
We recognize the devastating lifelong effects gender-based violence can have on both physical and mental well-being of survivors.
We recognize that domestic violence calls are among the most dangerous for first responders and victims alike.
We recognize those who have engaged in sexual or domestic violence are far more likely to harm current/future partners/children — also being public dangers at large.
We recognize this danger multiplies when those individuals possess firearms.
And we insist that the federal government must intervene.
To return to Attorney General Reno’s words during VAWA’s enactment: addressing domestic/sexual violence must be “linchpin[] in attacking violent crime.”
Today as we take stock of VAWA’s impact over 30 years; we also recognize what it took ensuring its passage/re-authorization (1994-2022).
And we recognize we wouldn't be here today without survivors offering powerful/often heartbreaking testimonies before communities/reporters/congressional hearings making real lawmakers/American public tolls these crimes take on everyone involved including entire communities themselves!
Also acknowledging advocates/experts amplifying survivor stories/experiences while proposing solutions underscoring needs stronger protections holding offenders accountable increasing access services victims aftermath terrible crimes many whom here today behalf Justice Department/American people thank you!
Not yet—I’ve much more say...
Progress made addressing gender-based/intimate-partner violence results professionals dedicating lives carrying out VAWA’s promise past three decades thanking service providers front lines working daily ensuring survivor voices heard/believed receiving needed support healing/rebuilding lives calling them true heroes!
Thanks extended criminal justice partners—law enforcement officers/prosecutors/judges ensuring perpetrators held accountable rule law upheld treating survivors dignity/respect deserved finally colleagues here DOJ tirelessly implementing VAWA protections developing policies/resources improving investigations/prosecutions administering millions grant funds yearly supporting needed protections/services enforcing laws prosecuting cases Indian Country advancing efforts ending crisis missing/murdered Indigenous persons defending federal law protections successfully Supreme Court Term defending firearm possession ban individuals subject civil protection orders etc...
Although my position DOJ (1994) gave grim view treatment gender-based crimes pre-VAWA vantage point seeing shift followed Janet Reno standing up original Office Violence Against Women since creation OVW awarded/administered $11 billion grants/funding addressing various forms gender-based/intimate-partner violences working closely Rosie/incredible OVW team passion/deep expertise commitment relentless work reaching every person touched showing example effective/caring partner effort thanking Rosie!
Taking stock progress advanced recognizing much more do reality remains US more one-third women experience some form lifetime intimate partner-related violences Tribal/historically marginalized groups disproportionately affected essential Congress reauthorized VAWA (2022) DOJ committed using every tool disposal ending related violences supporting survivors announcing week awarding over $690 million grants programs created under VAWA awards $171 million all states/territories STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program promoting coordinated community responses leveraging FBI ATF U.S Marshals U.S Attorneys Offices designating initial set 78 communities surging resources combating firearm-related intimate partner/child violences Special Assistant U.S Attorneys focusing efforts agents/prosecutors collaborating community stakeholders developing strategies prioritizing prosecutions unlawful gun possessions abusers building innovative initiatives targeting district-level domestic violences Western District Oklahoma Operation 922 charging hundreds federal firearms offenses quickly removing abusers homes protecting controlled victims safeguarding responding law enforcements
Together doing everything possible getting guns out hands engaging abuses concert protecting/promoting healing saving lives knowing many room success story personal reflecting remarkable vision decades advocacy/hard work steadfast commitments triumphing personal tragedies changing world saving/improving countless lives looking forward continued collaborations
Thanking everyone presence today...