What’s New, What’s Happening

The Justice Department joins law enforcement partners, victim services professionals, advocates, and communities across the country in observing October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and announces more than $476 million in Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) grants. The funding supports projects that meaningfully address the needs of underserved and marginalized survivors, improve access to justice, enhance survivor safety, hold accountable those who have caused harm, and provide training and technical assistance to an array of professionals and systems working to address sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking in every state and territory, as well as dozens of tribal communities.

This blog post, courtesy of Allison Randall, Acting Director, Office on Violence Against Women, discusses the impact of the announcement that the United States has joined global partners – including governments, civil society, and the private sector – in making commitments as part of the Generation Equality Forum. The commitments laid out in this White House fact sheet demonstrate a broad government-wide approach to reducing gender-based violence and to working together here in the U.S. and around the world. While tremendous progress has been made in addressing gender-based violence, serious gaps remain and deep-seated inequities must be addressed. The Biden-Harris Administration’s domestic and global priorities include policy and resource commitments to prevent and respond to all forms of gender-based violence; strengthen women’s economic security; and protect and advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.