In a victory for victims of violence against women and their advocates, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that it will follow federal law and make the Office on Violence Against Women (VAWO) a separate unit within the DOJ. This marks a change in the Administration's plans to keep VAWO in its current position as a subdivision of the DOJ's Office of Justice Programs. The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) has confirmed that the office will be made a distinct entity within the Department, but officials say the exact makeup of the office has not yet been determined.

"This is a big day for those of us who've fought so long and so hard to shine the spotlight on the fight against domestic violence, and give it the priority and visibility it deserves," said Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) on learning of the decision. "Protecting the most vulnerable among us - battered women and their children - is not only our responsibility, it is our moral obligation. This Office is a big part of our efforts to do that, and I am extremely happy that, after a bit of arm twisting, the Bush Administration has recognized its importance."

Senator Biden introduced the Violence Against Women Office Act, which Congress passed last October and President Bush signed into law as part of the DOJ Reauthorization bill. The bill gives VAWO a much more prominent role than it currently has as a subdivision within the Office of Justice Programs. It was to become a permanent, separate and independent office within the DOJ, with a director who reports directly to the Attorney General and who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Despite the law, in February the Administration announced its plan to keep VAWO as a subcomponent within the DOJ. In response to that announcement, Senator Biden, other members of Congress and advocates pressured U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to reconsider the decision. Senators Biden and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) sent a letter to the Attorney General, and advocates around the country contacted members of Congress to urge them to contact the Attorney General themselves. Advocates also conducted media outreach, which generated articles on the topic in a variety of outlets.

VAWO oversees implementation of the Violence Against Women Act. Advocates have long said that an independent VAWO is critical to ending violence against women and providing services to victims and their children. The leadership of a freestanding office will ensure that efforts to prevent violence against women get the high priority and visibility they deserve, and that VAWO has a clear agenda that cannot be marginalized or subjected to that of another department in the DOJ.

VAWO administers more than $270 million a year in grants to states to help transform the way the justice system responds to violence against women. Since 1995, the Office has distributed more than one billion dollars to states, localities, tribal governments and private organizations. Other grants are used to support a variety of programs to improve the investigation and prosecution of crimes of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault, and to train judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers on violence against women.

© Copyright © 2004 Family Violence Prevention Fund
All rights reserved