Office on Violence Against Women
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1995 (20 years ago) |
| Headquarters | Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building |
| Annual budget | "$413 million (2013)" (PDF). |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | United States Department of Justice |
| Website | Office on Violence Against Women |
The United States Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) was created following the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994. The VAWA was renewed in 2005 and again in 2013, and mandates the OVW to work to combat and reduce violence against women in many different areas, including on college campuses and in people's homes. The OVW also serves to administer justice and strengthen services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The OVW is headed by a director, who is appointed by the President. and confirmed by the Senate. The Principal Deputy Director serves directly under the Director, and the Deputy Director right under the Principal Deputy. The current Principal Deputy Director of the OVW is Bea Hanson.
As an office in the United States Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women receives federal funding for federal grants that are awarded to communities across America. These grants aim to create successful partnerships between federal and state authorities as well as provide helpful services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Currently the OVW funds 21 grant programs. These grants are for programs that aim to reduce these crimes; for example, Sexual Assault Services Program assists victims of sexual assault and family members affected by it and others. Since its inception, the OVW has awarded over $6 billion in grants directed towards such projects.
The Office on Violence Against Women and its programs do have critics as well. The primary criticisms of the OVW are more directly related to the manner in which it allocates its funds than to the OVW programmatic work. Some argue that the OVW does not appropriate its monetary resources to the communities that have the greatest need for them, such as men who suffer domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is headed by a Director. The Principal Deputy Director serves under the Director, and the Deputy Director for Tribal Affairs under the Principal Deputy Director. On the third and lowest tier of the office rests Training and Technical Assistance, Program Development and Evaluation and Demonstration/Special Projects.
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