Working to Bridge the Gap
When the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990, it marked a historic opportunity for many individuals with disabilities to move out of the margins and become active participants...
View ArticleBack to School: September is National Campus Safety and Awareness Month
It’s the time for students to head back to school. We are often reluctant to acknowledge and talk about risks and safety at school – especially related to sexual assault and dating violence, but we...
View ArticleNational Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2012
The Office on Violence Against Women, along with the entire Department of Justice, the President and the Vice-President, is proud to join with our partners in the field to recognize October as National...
View ArticleHonoring Leaders in the Field
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Annual Attorney General’s Awards. I feel privileged to announce that Ellen Pence and Marnie Shiels received awards at the Attorney General’s Awards ceremony...
View ArticleResponding to Hurricane Sandy
Last week communities across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast braced for an historic storm as Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the East Coast. Those of us in Washington, D.C. watched with shock and...
View ArticleUpdate: Responding to Hurricane Sandy
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, recovery efforts continue throughout the Northeast region, especially in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Over the past several days, OVW staff has been in...
View ArticleProtecting Native American and Alaska Native Women from Violence: November is...
Last month I was honored to chair the Department of Justice’s 7th Annual Government-to-Government Consultation on Violence Against Native Women. During the consultation I had the opportunity to hear...
View ArticleCompletion and Release of National Advisory Committee on Violence Against...
I am pleased to announce the completion and release of the Final Report of the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women (NAC). When Attorney General Holder re-chartered the NAC in 2010,...
View ArticleDirector’s Message for December 2012
This month, we celebrated two important and globally recognized awareness days: World AIDS Day, observed on December 1st, and Human Rights Day, observed on December 10th. In the Proclamation that...
View ArticleJanuary is National Stalking Awareness Month
Every morning at OVW, as one of our first items of business, my staff and I check the headlines related to violence against women – many of those stories involve stalking. On just one day, I read about...
View ArticleFebruary Director’s Message – Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month
OVW joins the nation in recognizing February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAM). In his Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month Proclamation...
View ArticleOVW Seeks Research and Evaluation Expert
Research and evaluation play significant roles in preventing and responding to violence against women. It is critical to the life-saving work OVW grantees do every day. Because victim services...
View ArticleCelebrating Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
Today President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013, marking an historic day in our nation’s effort to reduce domestic and sexual violence. A week ago today...
View ArticlePreventing and Reducing Domestic Violence Homicides
The past two weeks have been filled with excitement, energy, and momentum. Last week we joined you in celebrating as we watched President Obama sign this historic Violence Against Women Act...
View ArticleOVW Leadership Participates in the United Nations’ Commission on the Status...
On March 15th, the final day of its 57th session, and after long hours of productive negotiations, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) adopted Agreed Conclusions on the theme of the elimination...
View ArticleApril Director’s Message – Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month
OVW joins the nation in recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAM) and stands with survivors everywhere in calling for justice. Sexual assault is far too prevalent in our...
View ArticleRelease of the Updated National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic...
Today, I was fortunate to join Attorney General Eric Holder, Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West, OVC Principal Deputy Director Joye Frost and OJP Acting Assistant Attorney General MaryLou...
View ArticleStatement by Acting Director for the Office on Violence Against Women Bea...
Yesterday the Department of Justice announced that it had entered into two agreements with the University of Montana to ensure that the University responds swiftly and effectively to sexual assault and...
View ArticleRecognizing National Mental Health Awareness Month and the Importance of...
This May we join the Administration in recognizing National Mental Health Awareness Month. We know that the trauma of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking can have devastating mental health...
View ArticleMessage from Director Carbon: February 2012
"As mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, friends, neighbors and colleagues, this is an important time for all of us to join together to help stem the tide of teen dating...
View Article