What is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)?
The Violence Against Women Act is a federal law first passed in 1994 that funds services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, strengthens criminal penalties, and gives victims specific legal protections. Despite its name, it protects victims of any gender. It was last reauthorized in 2022.
Key takeaways
- VAWA is a federal law first passed in 1994 and last reauthorized in 2022.
- It funds shelters, hotlines, legal help and training for police and courts.
- It protects victims of any gender, despite its name.
- It protects victims from being evicted from federally assisted housing because of the abuse.
- It also lets some immigrant victims apply for status on their own, without the abuser.
Origins
VAWA was enacted in 1994 as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. It marked the first comprehensive federal response to domestic and sexual violence, which had largely been treated as a private or local matter. Congress reauthorized it in 2000, 2005, 2013 and 2022, each time expanding its scope. The 2022 reauthorization extended its programs through 2027.
What the law does
- Funds services — grants to states, tribes and nonprofits for shelters, legal aid, rape crisis centers, transitional housing, victim advocates and training for police, prosecutors and judges. The Office on Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice administers the grants.
- Creates federal crimes — interstate domestic violence, interstate stalking and cyberstalking, and interstate violation of a protection order.
- Requires nationwide enforcement of protection orders — a valid order from one state or tribe must be enforced in every other state and on tribal land (full faith and credit).
- Supports the National Domestic Violence Hotline and related programs.
Protections for victims
- Housing — in public housing, Section 8 and other federally assisted housing, a victim cannot be denied housing or evicted because of domestic violence committed against them. Victims can request an emergency transfer, and housing providers can remove the abuser from the lease.
- Immigration — VAWA allows certain abused spouses, children and parents of US citizens or permanent residents to petition for lawful status on their own, without the abuser's knowledge or cooperation. Related U visas protect victims of certain crimes who help law enforcement.
- Costs — states receiving certain grants may not charge victims for filing or serving protection orders or require them to pay for forensic medical exams after sexual assault.
- Confidentiality — funded programs must protect victims' personal information.
Expanded coverage over time
The 2000 reauthorization added dating violence. The 2013 version added explicit protections regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, strengthened housing rights, and restored tribal courts' authority to prosecute non-Native abusers for domestic violence on tribal land. The 2022 version expanded that tribal jurisdiction to sexual violence, stalking and trafficking, created a federal civil action for the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and increased support for rural and culturally specific services.
VAWA and gender
Although the name refers to women, the law's services and protections apply to all victims regardless of gender. Funded programs are generally prohibited from discriminating on the basis of sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.
What VAWA does not do
Most domestic violence is still prosecuted under state law, and protective orders are issued by state and tribal courts, not federal ones. The original 1994 law included a civil right to sue attackers in federal court for gender-motivated violence, but the Supreme Court struck that provision down in United States v. Morrison (2000), holding it exceeded Congress's powers. Victims can still sue under state law.
Related federal laws
The Lautenberg Amendment (1996) bans firearm possession by people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, and federal law also bans possession by people subject to qualifying protective orders — a rule upheld in United States v. Rahimi (2024). The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act funds shelters, and the Victims of Crime Act funds victim compensation programs in every state.
How victims use VAWA in practice
- Contact a local domestic violence program, most of which receive VAWA funding, for safety planning, shelter and legal help.
- If you live in federally assisted housing, ask the housing provider for the VAWA notice of rights and certification form.
- If your immigration status depends on an abusive spouse or parent, talk to an immigration attorney or accredited representative about a VAWA self-petition — do not rely on the abuser.
- If you move, bring certified copies of your protective order; it remains enforceable in the new state.
Where to get help
The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233), RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) and local legal aid organizations can explain VAWA rights and connect victims to services.
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This page explains general rules in the United States and is not legal advice. Deadlines and definitions differ by state, and only a licensed attorney can tell you how the law applies to your own situation.