Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Public Law 113-4

Contains the full text of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Public Law 113-4, signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 7, 2013. This was a reauthorization of the original Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) that was reauthorized by Congress in 2000 and 2005, but which had expired in 2011.

The VAWA funds the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, imposes automatic and mandatory restitution on those convicted, and allows civil redress in cases prosecutors chose to leave unprosecuted. The Act also established the Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice. The original VAWA’s coverage extended to male victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 

The 2013 renewal of the 1994 VAWA legislation makes it easier to prosecute crimes against women, including domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking. The bill also extends protections to gays and lesbians and women of Native American tribal lands who are attacked or abused by non-tribal residents.

Get a first-hand account of this book on our blog: https://govbooktalk.gpo.gov/2017/10/24/national-domestic-violence-awaren...

VAWA today focuses on nine specific areas of intervention (per the American Bar Association):

• enhancing judicial and law enforcement tools to combat violence against women (Title I);
• improving services for victims (Title II);
• services, protection, and justice for young victims of violence (Title III);
• strengthening America’s families by preventing violence (Title IV);
• strengthening the healthcare system’s response (Title V);
• housing opportunities and safety for battered women and children (Title VI);
• providing economic security for victims (Title VII);
• protection of battered and trafficked immigrants (Title VIII);
• and safety for Indian women (Title IX).

Policymakers, lawyers, members of government and civilian organizations need to be aware of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA), and its reauthorization as the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Public Law 113-4, in order to fully and lawfully observe the regulations of this Act.  In addition, women/gays/lesbians/Indian women and their families, community shelters and other advocates for people facing domestic violence, should be aware of the act so that those facing violence can be protected--physically, mentally and legally.