Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Explained
This paper examines the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA 2013), signed into law by President Obama on March 7, 2013, as part of the 113th Congress's legislative agenda. The paper traces the law's origins from its 1994 passage, outlines its key provisions addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and explains how it expanded protections for Native American women, LGBT individuals, and undocumented immigrant women. It also discusses the law's grant-funded community coordination programs, presents supporting evidence of declining intimate partner violence rates, addresses counterarguments from critics who oppose the law, and concludes with an assessment of VAWA's broader significance for addressing intimate partner violence in the United States.
- Introduction: Overview of VAWA 2013 and its significance
- Brief Explanation of VAWA 2013: Provisions, supporters, and legislative background
- Arguments in Support of VAWA 2013: Evidence and rationale for supporting the law
- Counterargument: Critics' objections to VAWA as federal overreach
- Rebuttal: Response to counterarguments with broader evidence
- Conclusion: VAWA's lasting impact on women and IPV policy
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper follows a clear argumentative structure — presenting the law, making an affirmative case, acknowledging opposition, and then rebutting it — which gives the essay logical coherence.
- It grounds its argument in concrete evidence, citing a 53% decline in intimate partner violence between 1993 and 2008, and drawing on peer-reviewed sources to support claims about grant efficacy and therapeutic interventions.
- The paper addresses multiple affected groups (Native American women, LGBT individuals, undocumented immigrants) rather than treating VAWA as a single-issue policy, which demonstrates breadth of analysis.
Key academic technique demonstrated
This paper demonstrates the classical argumentative essay technique of presenting and then rebutting a counterargument (the "concession-refutation" move). By acknowledging critics who view VAWA as federal overreach or ideologically flawed, the author shows awareness of the debate before dismantling the opposing position using evidence about the multi-causal nature of violence against women. This technique strengthens the paper's credibility by showing the author has engaged with dissenting views.
Structure breakdown
The paper is organized into six sections: an introduction that establishes context and previews the argument; a background section explaining VAWA 2013's provisions and legislative history; an arguments section making the affirmative case with data and policy details; a counterargument section presenting critics' objections; a rebuttal responding to those objections; and a conclusion synthesizing the paper's findings. This structure mirrors a standard policy analysis essay and is appropriate for undergraduate-level political science or law writing.
Introduction
The 113th United States Congress is among the most recent sessions of the legislative branch of the United States federal government. The following study focuses on the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 — particularly its history, congressional activity, and the developmental stages that led to its ratification (VAWA 2013). The legislation of the 113th Congress is relevant to grants consolidation, as it addresses intimate partner violence (IPV). VAWA 2013 was signed into law by President Obama on March 7, 2013, and it recognized those tribes that were faced with inherent power when exercising "special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction" (SDVCJ) over certain defendants. The legislation is also relevant to strengthening healthcare systems in their response to various forms of violence, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Passing the law meant that certain tribes and groups — including Native American women, the LGBT community, and undocumented immigrant women — were allowed to exercise SDVCJ sooner.
VAWA is an invaluable piece of legislation because it granted certain tribes and groups sovereignty in exercising powers such as investigating, prosecuting, convicting, and sentencing. This was directed at non-Indian and Indian communities in America, particularly those who assaulted their spouses or dating partners, or those who violated protection orders stipulated under Indian law (Modi, Palmer, and Armstrong 255). Moreover, VAWA 2013 clarified the scope of power sovereignty and the enforcement of civil protection orders against non-Indian and Indian communities alike. VAWA was initially introduced and passed by Congress in 1994, serving as a landmark recognition of the widespread cases and effects of domestic violence at the federal level. For Native Americans specifically, the law meant an expansion of their protection.
This paper first addresses the law in brief and how it has changed the situation for Native American women and other groups living in America. It then examines why some opposed the law, before evaluating the flaws in those counterarguments and offering final thoughts on the law's implications.
Brief Explanation of VAWA 2013
VAWA 2013 is legislation intended to spur cultural change in law enforcement activities. For the Obama administration, VAWA 2013 represented a commitment to empowering, supporting, and protecting women in the United States and around the world. For a long period, violence against women had generated mixed reactions across different societies. Several factors contributed to the increase in such violence. Culture is one of the most significant — some cultures grant men absolute authority over women, prompting controlling or harmful behavior during domestic conflicts or workplace disputes. Although these cultural norms are not native to American society, people from regions where such practices are common who live in the United States may carry those attitudes with them.
Another major contributor to this crisis was the negligence of law enforcement agencies in handling cases of violence against women. Many cases were dismissed by police and courts citing lack of evidence, despite the reality that such violence was occurring in communities and neighborhoods throughout the country. Most law enforcement agencies tended to overlook these cases due to the absence of strong laws governing gender relations. Therefore, the bill was introduced and passed into law because of the high number of domestic violence cases among Native Americans and the long history of law enforcement declining to act on reported incidents. As stated in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013:
"(B) in paragraph (1), by striking 'sexual assault' and all that follows through 'dating violence' and inserting 'domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including the appropriate use of nonimmigrant status under subparagraphs (T) and (U) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).'"
VAWA 2013 is no longer a bill but a law ratified by President Obama. Institutions supporting it include the Peace Corps and the White House Task Force on Protecting Students from Sexual Assault. In 2014, President Obama and Vice President Biden launched a public campaign on the issue, collaborating with the media, sexual assault prevention organizations, institutions of higher education, corporations, and nonprofit organizations, among others (The White House 5). Battered women's movement advocates, courts, law enforcement agencies, and sexual assault advocates also supported the bill. However, a number of House members — including GOP Congressmen Louie Gohmert, Thomas Massie, Walter Jones, Paul Broun, and Tom McClintock — voted against it.
Arguments in Support of VAWA 2013
VAWA 2013 is deserving of support because it grants certain tribes and groups sovereign power to protect themselves against violence. Addressing issues that affect vulnerable groups in society is essential, and the neglect of societal mechanisms in doing so has only increased the magnitude of harm. In the United States, domestic and sexual violence against Native women represents one of the most persistent human rights crises. Sexual assault occurs every day in American society, with some cases reported and many others going unreported. While society often places blame on survivors for not reporting abuse, it is equally important to examine the lack of accountability in the handling of cases that are reported. International human rights bodies were eventually called upon to address the suffering of these groups. At the time, there were few applicable laws or treaties, and resources were scarce. The passage of VAWA 2013 closed the gap of impunity that had allowed violence to go unpunished.
VAWA 2013 emphasized the development of coordinated community responses that provide victims with care through collaboration among law enforcement, victim services, prosecutors, and attorneys. This coordinated approach was intended to be the primary intervention for curbing domestic violence. The act also provided funds to support groups, shelters, and safe houses for battered women, offering them hope and a path forward. The grants provided under VAWA were also designed to fund the training of personnel who provide survivors of IPV with services such as counseling (Hackett, McWhirter, and Lesher 126).
These grants have also contributed significantly to the prevention of violence against women. Between 1993 and 2008, intimate partner violence against females declined by 53%, dropping from 9.4 to 4.3 victimizations per 1,000 females aged 12 and older (Sacco 6–7). The grants help support the justice and security systems involved in handling cases of violence against women, partly through improvements in intelligence gathering. It is also through VAWA that the American criminal justice system evolved, doubling federal penalties for repeat offenders.
Conclusion
VAWA addresses issues of IPV through preventive measures, victim services, and sound prosecution frameworks. The evidence is clear that concentrating solely on responding to violence after it occurs does little to reduce its prevalence. VAWA's prevention strategies offer a more proactive approach to reducing the effects of violence against women. The law has brought meaningful change for Native American women, who now have legal options for protecting themselves against various forms of assault. The support services offered to battered women have helped them become more independent and given them greater agency in making life decisions. Grants provided under the act have also supported the training of personnel and the provision of resources that help survivors rebuild their lives.
VAWA acknowledges the painful reality that such violence has occurred and continues to occur, but it also reflects the solidarity of society in helping those affected to live healthy, stable lives and move forward from trauma. Although various individuals and groups have criticized the law's premises, VAWA 2013 remains the most comprehensive and well-documented legal provision available for addressing violence against women in the United States.
Works Cited
"Violence against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013." One Hundred Thirteenth Congress of the United States of America. (2014). Retrieved 23 Nov. 2017 from https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113s47enr/pdf/BILLS-113s47enr.pdf
Ball, Molly. "Why Would Anyone Oppose The Violence Against Women Act?" The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2017.
Hackett, Shannon, Paula T. McWhirter, and Susan Lesher. "The Therapeutic Efficacy of Domestic Violence Victim Interventions." Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 17.2 (2016): 123–132.
Modi, Monica N., Sheallah Palmer, and Alicia Armstrong. "The Role of Violence against Women Act in Addressing Intimate Partner Violence: A Public Health Issue." Journal of Women's Health 23.3 (2014): 253–259.
Sacco, Lisa N. The Violence against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 23 Nov. 2017 from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42499.pdf
The White House. The Council on Women and Girls: Violence against Women Accomplishments, 9 June 2016. Web. 23 Nov. 2017.
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