Democratic Primaries

WeekiWater

(3,259 posts) Tue May 7, 2019, 11:26 AM May 2019

Obama White House Archives

About Vice President Biden's Efforts to End Violence Against Women

On June 20, 1990, then-Senator Joe Biden introduced the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the United States Congress. This act was a landmark piece of legislation that changed the way our country responded to domestic violence and sexual assault. VAWA changed law enforcement practices, improved the criminal justice system, and created a network of services for victims. The bill established new federal crimes of interstate domestic violence and stalking, doubled penalties for repeat sex offenders, and sparked the passage of laws at the state level to protect victims. Since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, rates of domestic violence have decreased by over 50%.

As Vice President, Joe Biden has continued to advocate on behalf of women. Upon entering office, the Vice President appointed the first ever White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, Lynn Rosenthal. In this role, Ms. Rosenthal advises the Vice President on the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, serves as a liaison to the domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy community and promotes collaboration across federal agencies. This interagency approach to reducing violence against women has resulted in an unprecedented level of coordination among federal agencies.

Vice President Biden has focused specifically on strengthening efforts to reduce dating violence against students, teens, and young women ages 16-24. Young women in this age group face the highest rates of dating violence and sexual assault. Nearly one in five college women will be the victim of a sexual assault, and one in ten teens will be hurt by someone they are dating. Men are also survivors of this violence. Because even one incident is too many, in September 2011, the Vice President launched the 1is2many initiative. 1is2many uses technology and outreach to get the message out and to help reduce dating violence and sexual assault among students, teens and young adults. The Vice President is also working hard to improve the response to sexual assault and dating violence on college campuses, ensuring that students can pursue their education free from violence.

On January 22, 2014, the Vice President joined President Obama when he created the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. The Office of the Vice President currently co-chairs the interagency taskforce along with the White House Council on Women and Girls. President Barack Obama has charged the task force with sharing best practices along with increasing transparency, enforcement, and public awareness to protect and support survivors. The Office of the Vice President and the White House Council on Women and Girls also published a report on sexual violence entitled, “Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action.” The Vice President and the Task Force are working hard to partner across government, education, academia, and communities everywhere to ensure that all students feel safe, secure, and in position to thrive when they head to school, and out into the world.

Obama White House Archives

The President and Vice President Speak on Preventing Sexual Assault

Vice President Biden Visits the National Domestic Violence Hotline

Summary: Vice President Biden created the National Domestic Violence Hotline in the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 (VAWA) and has long championed the cause of ending domestic violence.

Obama White House Archives

No One Should Have to Live in Fear of Violence

Summary: Thanks to the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act, which President Obama signed today, thousands of women and men across the country who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking will be able to access resources they need in their communities to help heal from their trauma