By: vadmin / December 19, 2023

The Law Offices of Varun Luthra

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a United States law signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 to curb violence against those facing domestic violence and protects those vulnerable to such violence. Senator Joe Biden authored the 1994 Act with support from various coalitions and advocacy groups. VAWA was reauthorized by a bipartisan Congress in 2000 and against in 2005, signed by President George W. Bush. The bill has had much success even though it’s reauthorization lagged in 2012, it was reauthorized in 2013 with provisions protecting Native American women, battered illegal immigrants who could claim temporary visas because of their situation. It also further extended protections to same-sex couples. The law provides programs and services to but not limited to community violence prevention, legal aid for survivors of domestic violence, victims of disabilities, meet the needs of immigrant women and women of different race and ethnicities, rape crisis centers and hotlines, etc.

This article concerns itself mostly to discussing how the VAWA Act applies to Men. Domestic violence, whether it’s towards men or women, has long been acknowledged by various governments and civil societies who understand that it is a major human rights, as well as, a public health concern. When it comes to it’s name, VAWA seems like it is mostly women focused. Men who look at VAWA and all
the benefits it affords to women simply do not know that they too have relief under the Act. Senator Joe Biden who authored the 1994 Act specifically talks about the nature of Act by saying that “violence is violence no matter what gender the victim. The Violence Against Women Act applies to all victims of domestic violence, irrespective of gender. Nothing in the act denies services, programs, funding or assistance to male victims of violence.”

True to these words, the reauthorization of VAWA increased the protection afforded to men tremendously. The 2005 reauthorization of the Act added a non-exclusivity provision clarifying that the title should not be construed to prohibit male victims from receiving services, funding, and programs under the Act. In this reauthorization, comprehensive funding and services in areas of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence as well as stalking have been extended to the broadest range of individuals. It seeks to better protect women, men teens and all those who are victims of violence. Furthermore, in 2013 the reauthorization extended the non-discrimination provision on the basis of sex.

Although majority of domestic violence shows that women compose of 84% of spouse abuse victims and 86% of victims of abuse by a boyfriend or girlfriend (U.S. DOJ Family Violence Statistics), there have been longtime advocates like the activist Phyllis Schlafly who argues that domestic violence is a problem that affects men and women equally. He says, “A CDC control survey found that half of all partner violence was mutual and 282 scholarly studies reported that women are as physically aggressive, or more aggressive, than men.” Whatever the case maybe, it is important for men to know that they are equally encouraged and afforded services and programs when it comes to VAWA and they should absolutely seek help when it comes to domestic violence to protect themselves. Men should reach out, speak up, and with clear and proper evidence make their case in order to seek the help provided by VAWA. VAWA’s intent is to end all forms of violence regardless of gender and focused on gender-based violence specifically, this focus extends to men.

While statistics, situations, and circumstances vary case-by-case, it is important in noting that the success of VAWA has been tremendous. According to the White House, domestic violence has dropped by 67 percent between 1993 and 2010.

“Between 1993 and 2007, the rate of intimate partner homicides of females decreased 35 percent and rate of intimate partner homicides of males decreased to 46 percent,” reported the White House. The National Domestic Violence Hotline has answered over three million calls.

We at the Law Offices of Varun Luthra encourage you to reach out to us when it comes to the immigrant benefits afforded to you under VAWA. We have worked on many cases and have years of experience in helping victims of domestic violence. Often times immigration relief is available with proper evidence, we have and will work hard to help you with your needs.