About the Office on Violence Against Women

Victims and survivors can find resources by clicking here.
OVW does not provide direct services.

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice. OVW administers grant programs under Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation, and provides national leadership on domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

Our Mission

OVW provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Our History

Congress passed VAWA in 1994 in recognition of the severity of crimes associated with domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. OVW was created in 1995 and administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country as they work to support victims, hold offenders accountable, and end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Congress reauthorized VAWA in 2000, 2005, 2013, and 2022.

OVW administers more than two dozen federal grant programs, most of which are authorized by VAWA and subsequent legislation. Some programs are discretionary, meaning that eligible applicants generally must compete for funding through a merit review process conducted by OVW, typically using external peer reviewers; others are formula or quasi-formula, meaning that all eligible applicants receive an award, provided they meet application requirements, with the amount of the award determined by a mathematical formula.

OVW’s grant programs support communities in responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Grant recipients provide victim services, criminal justice solutions, civil legal assistance, medical forensic care, and more.