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Does the Violence Against Women Act provide assistance for men?

Thursday, April 1, 2021
By Austin Tannenbaum
YES

The Violence Against Women Act, first passed in 1994, provides assistance regardless of gender. The law “expired” in 2019, but funding of many programs continues while the Senate debates a reauthorization bill that the House passed in March.

In 2006, the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence noted that “male victims frequently receive help from VAWA-funded programs,” including “advocacy services and legal assistance to protect their safety.” The current reauthorization proposal adds nondiscrimination requirements for equal access to protections regardless of gender.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice, in 2018 about 3% more of the female population were victims of violence than the male population. According to a 2020 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced violence from an intimate partner.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
National Network to End Domestic Violence Violence Against Women Act
National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women Frequently Asked Questions about VAWA and gender
US Department of Justice Criminal Victimization, 2018
Centers for Disease Control Preventing intimate partner violence
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