There will be four sections to a paper you did on Domestic Violence : Violence Against Women Act of 1994. All four sections must be joined to make one full paper. This paper should have a cover page, table of contents, an abstract, body of the paper, conclusion and a reference page. This paper should have 30-45 pages total in length. You'll notice that each section will have its own abstract, table of contents, body, reference and conclusion but I just need one for this paper.

Part I: Historical BackgroundP

Part II: Description of the Problem

Part III: Policy Description

Part IV: Policy Analysis with Conclusion

1 Domestic Violence – Violence Against Women Act of 1994 Section 1 Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Violence Against Women Act .......................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. Introduction ....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2 Problems that Led to the Policy ...................................................................................................... 4 Statistical Impact of the Act ............................................................................................................ 4 Domestic Violence Situation in the Past ......................................................................................... 6 Establishment of the Policy ............................................................................................................ 7 The Initial Policy Change Over Time ............................................................................................. 8 The Legislative History of the Policy ............................................................................................. 9 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 11 References ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Abstract This paper investigated domestic violence policy; the Violence Against Women Act. It analyzed the progress and history alongside the amendments that it has undergone since its establishment. It addressed the problems that initiated the policy, identifying that as a result of 3 widespread community campaigns in the late 1980s and late 1990s, the Violence Against Women Act was introduced and enacted. The study claims that given the abolition of the civil rights redress, VAWA and its corresponding ensure the continuous have greatly strengthened programs and preparation of survivor proponents, health workers, federal agents, attorneys, and courts for women and girls of sexual harassment assault. About history, in the early seventies, magistrates and police still found women to be a minor crime—policemen asked husbands to rest and women to avoid molesting, and prosecutions came only before the courts. It highlights that the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) initially raised doubt about the legislation by claiming that the increasing sentences were unreasonable. The expansion in pre-trial incarceration was 'repugnant,' that the compulsory HIV testing of the arrested but not prosecuted individuals violated a person's confidentiality. It is outlined in the study that every five years, VAWA must be re-authorized. In 2000 over and over again, in December of 2005, VAWA was re-authorized by Congress. VAWA had no assistance from two political parties in 2012. The Parliament and the Senate voted their edition, but both proposals were not resolved at the close of the 112th Congress. The paper makes a conclusion that the initiation, amendment, and progress on laws against domestic violence has been significant in handling the intensity of the oppression since it is no longer a big issue as before. Domestic Violence – Violence Against Women Act of 1994 Over the past decades, domestic violence has continued to be rampant. The cases of family members losing their lives due to domestic violence have caught the eye of several experts that deal with domestic issues. Domestic violence often happens between spouses in a relationship, and it can also be in the form of child neglect, child abuse, or the abuse of family 4 members (Barrick, 2021). The administration and the non-government organizations accept it as a significant societal issue, and the U.S. Congress has enacted a series of measures that are against the abuse of women. Apparently, the initiation, amendment, and progress of laws against domestic violence have been significant in handling the intensity of the oppression since it is no longer a big issue as before. Problems that Led to the Policy As a result of widespread community campaigns in the late 1980s and late 1990s, the Violence Against Women Act was introduced and enacted. Sexual harassment activists, human rights organizations, criminal justice departments, public prosecutors' departments, judiciary, and private bar campaigned to support the law. They encouraged Congress to enact critical measures to deal with domestic and sexual harassment (Whittier, 2016). One of VAWA's most critical achievements is a concerted reaction by the government to domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault, intimidation and currently operates together in a sustained campaign at the government and the private bar, by criminal justice, lawyers, and victim advocates (Heiskanen et al., 2017). VAWA promotes social organizations' work, especially groups that offer ethnically and culturally relevant programs in the fields of violence against women, mixing harassment, sexual aggression, and stalking (Heiskanen et al., 2017). VAWA also gives unique resources for domestic abuse, combating violence, sexual exploitation, and harassment of Native American women by communities and tribal organizations. Statistical Impact of the Act The 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna and the 1993 Resolution on the Abolition of Violence against Women agreed that liberal democracy and authorities regard family abuse as a program on human rights issues (Whittier, 2016). In the U. S., 1 in 6 women 5 experienced sexual assault inflicted by their near spouse in 2010 as per the Nationwide Sexual abuse Study. Given the abolition of the civil rights redress, VAWA and its corresponding ensure the continuous have greatly strengthened programs and preparation of survivor proponents, health workers, federal agents, attorneys, and courts for women and girls of sexual harassment assault (Stupakis, 2019). Numerous recent law includes banning countries accusing rape victims of clinical sexual harassment and the criminalization of stalking via computer monitoring. In the initial VAWA, reaction to domestic abuse strengthened injustice system, and the provision of services for these individuals were expanded. VAWA 2000 and VAWA 2005 repealed the initial VAWA-based assistance programs. It increased their original mission to accommodate impoverished populations' expectations, not just to domestic abuse but also violence against women and stalks (Stupakis, 2019). VAWA 2000 expanded security for victimized refugees, survivors of domestic violence, and dated crime victims. It allowed victims of domestic abuse fleeing through state lines to receive custody proceedings without appealing to courts where they are at risk and strengthening compliance with state and regional security orders (Montgomery, 2018). By focusing more on access to programs for colored groups, refugee people, and tribal and indigenous groups, VAWA 2005 established firm regulations. The court's educational and development services, child witnesses, and cultural programs are part of new initiatives within VAWA 2005. VAWA advocates for a structured collective response (CCR) to domestic abuse, sexual misconduct, and discrimination. It urges municipalities to put together players from varying contexts to exchange awareness and use their particular positions to respond to domestic abuse in their communities effectively (Montgomery, 2018). These participants comprise victims' 6 defenders, police agents, public prosecutors, attorneys, probation services, health workers, political activists, and women victims of crime. The Department of Justice's Office invests in VAWA activities on Violence Against Women (OVW), which was established primarily to enforce VAWA 1994 and its laws. The OVW delivers financial and strategic support to societies worldwide to promote the implementation of domestic abuse stop, dated abuse, sexual harassment, and stalking programs, policies, and activities (Barrick, 2021). In 2002, the law made OVW a permanent Justice Department member and a Senate-conferred Head, federally named. OVW has been granting VAWA grant funds to national, ethnic, and regional administrations, non-profit groups aiming at ending abuse against women and colleges since 1994, amounting to approximately $4 billion (Sacco, 2018). An extra 225 million dollars was allocated for OVW under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which came into effect on 19th of February, 2009 to counter the history of legislation and social standards that legitimized abuse against women (Scott et al., 2018). Domestic Violence Situation in the Past In the early seventies, magistrates and police still viewed domestic violence against women as a minor crime. Popular media interpreted woman beating as a joke, and psychologists considered it as an underclass or independent woman's pathology. The dilemma was usually dismissed or debated. Feminists reported the harassment of women as a pervasive occurrence and argued that not only working and middle-class husbands, but all groups of men abused their women. In a range of male attempts to control women, they described women as inferior beings and claim that violation is a prosecutable offence, not sex (Heiskanen et al., 2017). Feminists 7 also created shelters for mothers, sought more from the police to support women, and championed domestic violence victims in the courts. The analysis of the oppression of men and women is increasingly nuanced. Feminists began naming abused women "victims," not merely passive victims. Social scientists also began researching domestic abuse, and some studies suggested that women were participating in domestic attacks as many as men (Mullen, 2016). Abused women require psychological care, psychiatrists have argued. In the old days, domestic harassment has also been used as a means for husbands to 'resolve' their wives lawfully. Simultaneously, violence against men created domination issues. The husband killed or critically wounded the woman, and unnecessary force undermined the integrity of the household. The kin of women were also involved in shielding them from injuries. Besides that, the concept of marriage as a foundation of love or at least friendship and the relationship were endangered by abuse (Sacco, 2018). The great patriarch managed without destroying his patience to regulate his wife. Women may both be obedient to their husbands and dominate employees and infants within the home. They had influence and land in their own right in certain cultures and ages (Mullen, 2016). Women's willingness to get support to harm women, varies according to class, area, and level. Establishment of the Policy The provisions of the constitution of 1994 were enacted in the United States on the 13th of September 1994 and United States introduced a new law. The roots of VAWA came from the joint actions of the feminism movement, criminal justice authorities, and counsel on sexual harassment, courts, and law firms who lobbied Congress to develop regulations that support 8 women from abuse. The Act established VAWA to promote a government response to domestic abuse (Whittier, 2016). The Act of 1994 allocated $1.6 billion for violent crimes against women for six years to be reviewed, charged and forced to be restored immediately. From 1995 to 2000, under the Formula Funding Initiative for Service Training Officer and Prosecutor, a surplus of $440 million was allocated to fund 9,000 intimate relationship abuse initiatives (Scott et al., 2018). The VAWA Act includes domestic abuse, violence against women, sexual misconduct, and harassment. It stresses the establishment of integrated community treatment involving law enforcement agents, judges, victims, and lawyers. In addition to funding the recruitment of staff who offer care for IPV victims, it supports organizations and women's homes and shelters. When crossing state borders, VAWA also allows IPV as a federal offence. VAWA offers funding to States with efforts to reduce or offer care to victims of domestic abuse (Mullen, 2016). VAWA presently facilitates work on preventing domestic abuse, violence at home, sexual exploitation, and harassment of Indigenous Women within communities and tribal organizations. VAWA has since improved the judicial and legal system by increasing statutory fines for violent criminals twice. Every country has passed legislation to stalk a crime since VAWA was implemented in 1994, and every state improved the laws of statutory rape. The Initial Policy Change Over Time Every five years, VAWA must be re-authorized. In December of 2005, VAWA was reauthorized by Congress. VAWA had no assistance from two political parties in 2012. The Parliament and the Senate voted their edition, but both proposals were not resolved at the close of the 112th Congress (Montgomery, 2018). Republicans at this time opposed the expansion of 9 rights of same-sex spouses and the extension of provisional permits for undocumented aliens who were victims of sexual assault. On 12th of February 2013, the Senate introduced the latest roll-call election on the VAWA bill from 78 to 22, adding the based on human trafficking protections, regulations that made it easier for minors that have become victims of human trafficking to request support, regulations that are available for lesbians, gays and bisexuals and queers (LGBTQ), and protections that extend to indigenous Americans that live there (Montgomery, 2018). Provisions for the requirement of extended services for the survivors of intimate connection abuse to illegal immigrants, while mentioned in the original suggested Senate bill in 2012, were omitted from the 2013 bill. The Legislative History of the Policy The American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) initially raised doubt about the legislation by claiming that the increasing sentences were unreasonable. The expansion in pre-trial incarceration was 'repugnant,' that the compulsory HIV testing of the arrested but not prosecuted individuals violated a person's confidentiality (Stupakis, 2019). In 2005, nevertheless, the ACLU vigorously encouraged VAWA's reauthorization, given the 'unlawful provisions on DNA' were eliminated. This clause would authorize law enforcement to collect DNA samples from detained individuals or even individuals intercepted by the authorities without a judiciary's warrant. ACLU claimed that "VAWA is a very efficient parliamentary bill passed to stop domestic abuse, marital violence towards women assaults and harassment, in its correspondence to the Senate Judicial Committee on Violence against Women of 2005 (Scott et al., 2018). It has greatly increased criminal justice's reaction to sexual violence and risks and how safety resources that help women fight against harassment. Some activists were against the bill. The act was considered a "boondoggle" by Janice Shaw Crouse. She characterized the act as establishing an 10 "environment of false allegations, urgent decisions, and secret motives" in 2012 (Mullen, 2016). She blamed them for not resolving the reasons recognized as coercive actions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Libertarian Phyllis Schlafly criticized VAWA as a "filling-up" method and insists that "divorce, marital rupture, and men's hate were encouraged in the statute (Sacco, 2018). In 2000, part of VAWA was based on the United States by the Supreme Court against Morrison illegitimate for the federal system's reasons. This ruling invalidated only VAWA's constitutional correction clause. The service financing arrangements were not changed (Stupakis, 2019). A reauthorization from VAWA (as HR3402) specified the population that benefitted from the word "Underserved communities" in 2005, which was listed as "demographics underrepresented based on the geographical location, cultural and ethnic under-serves, peoples under-served due to specific needs (like communication difficulties, disabilities, alienation status or age) and every other demographic classified as non-served (Stupakis, 2019). The reauthorization also contains "Modifications of the 1968 Omnibus Crime and Safe Streets Act," which forbids officials from obligating sex offenders to undergo a neuropsychological evaluation as a necessity of conviction or conviction of sexual crimes. The rule came into effect in 2011 and in 2012, in Congress, the legislation was reauthorized. The Senate and House have introduced multiple iterations of the act, favoring a retrenchment of programs to refugees and LGBT immigrants who were unauthorized and members of the Liberal House (Scott et al., 2018). The law clause, which gave Native American tribal officials authority over sexual assaults against non-Native Americans on the ethnic territory, was another issue to be addressed. With the 1978 abolition of Oliphant v. Suquamish, this could shift power among national, state, and territorial authority. Congress has not 11 traditionally permitted tribal governments to exert criminal rights over members of the nontribal. The two measures awaiting ratification were awaiting, and a definitive measure could not hit the President's Office until the end of the year (Heiskanen et al., 2017). Conclusion Overall, the initiation, amendment, and progress of laws on domestic violence have been significant in handling the intensity of the oppression since it is no longer a big issue as before. 1 in 6 women experienced some form of sexual assault inflicted by their near spouse in 2010 as per the Nationwide Sexual abuse Study. The 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna agreed that liberal democracy and authorities regard family abuse as a program on human rights issues. VAWA 2000 expanded security for victimized refugees, survivors of domestic violence, and dated crime victims. VAWA advocates for a structured collective response (CCR) to domestic abuse, sexual misconduct, and discrimination. The Department of Justice's Office invests in VAWA activities and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) delivers financial and strategic support to societies worldwide to promote the implementation of domestic abuse stop, dated abuse, and stalking programs. The roots of VAWA came from the joint actions of the feminism movement, criminal justice authorities, and counsel on sexual harassment, courts, and law firms. The Act of 1994 allocated $1.6 billion for violent crimes against women for six years to be reviewed, charged, and forced to be restored immediately. The American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) initially raised doubt about the legislation by claiming that the increasing sentences were unreasonable. ACLU argued that VAWA is a very efficient parliamentary bill passed to stop domestic abuse, marital violence towards women, assaults, and harassment. 12 References Barrick, A. (2021). Committee Hearings, Witness Affiliations, and the Passage of the Violence Against Women Act. Journal of Policy Practice and Research, 1-12. Heiskanen, M., Francis, B., Strid, S., Stöckl, H., Helweg-Larsen, K., Palmer, E., ... & Balderston, S. (2017). The concept and measurement of violence against women and men (p. 192). Policy Press. Montgomery, B. E. (2018). Human Rights: The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Is Due. 13 Mullen, M. K. (2016). The Violence Against Women Act: a double-edged sword for Native Americans, their rights, and their hopes of regaining cultural Independence. . Louis ULJ, 61, 811. Sacco, L. N. (2018). The violence against women act: Overview, legislation, and federal funding. Congressional Research Service. Scott, M., Weaver, S., & Kamimura, A. (2018). Experiences of immigrant women who applied for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petition in the United States: Analysis of legal affidavits. Diversity and Equality in Health and Care, 15(4), 145-150. Stupakis, S. E. (2019). What the future may hold for victims of domestic and sexual violence without the Violence Against Women Act. Hastings Women's LJ, 30, 261. Whittier, N. (2016). Carceral and intersectional feminism in Congress: The violence against women act, discourse, and policy. Gender & Society, 30(5), 791-818. 1 Domestic Violence – Violence Against Women Act of 1994 Section II 2 Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. Nature of the Problem ..................................................................................................................... 4 The extent of the problem ............................................................................................................... 6 Worldwide Influence ...................................................................................................................... 7 Specific Subjects Affected .............................................................................................................. 8 Causes of the Problem .................................................................................................................. 10 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 11 3 Abstract This study seeks to evaluate and examine domestic violence's problem using the Violence Against Women Act's foundation. The paper addressed the cycle of violence and the adverse effects of domestic violence on all age groups and cultural backgrounds. Regarding the nature of domestic violence, it’s semantic is explored by outlining Intimate Partner Violence, rape, financial abuse, and online abuse as the often undermined forms of violence. The paper addresses the widespread domestic violence by focusing on the femicides supported by patriarchal forms of governance. The surge in numbers is also explained with regard to Covid19, which seems a promoting agent because the financial crisis and lockdown stay stresses families and may stir violence. By use of the ripple effect, the people affected are conclusively mentioned. As the main victims, women are associated with poverty which explains the statistical analysis that at least one in every three women must experience physical or sexual abuse in their lives. In justification of the number of people impacted by domestic violence, Covid-19 is a strong threshold that steers the perpetration of domestic violence. Specific subjects such as children, the elderly, abusers, and community are denoted at length with the various range of long-term impacts that accrue to each one of them. As the precursor to understanding domestic violence, the causes of domestic violence are provided with poverty and rigid gender roles taking the rule of the day. The paper makes a conclusion that medical education programs and clinical practices should be upheld to confirm the incidences of domestic violence on time and the policymakers being aggressive to ensure law compliance. 4 Domestic Violence – Violence Against Women Act of 1994 Limitless research has been done, and media attention is involved in addressing domestic violence prevalence. Despite domestic violence surpassing national boundaries, it is evident that the problem is deeply ingrained, with its incidence being extensive. Domestic violence can take the form of social abuse, physical assault, financial abuse, psychological abuse, or sexual assault (Modi et al., 2021). This explains the evolution of protection acts such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) whereby it was passed into federal law by the United States Congress in 1994. However, it is imperative to denote that both women and men perpetrate domestic violence. High costs to individuals, health systems, and society accrue upon execution of domestic violence. As a result, the paper addresses the nature of the problem, its widespread aggregation, the people affected, and the mainsprings of the superseding conduct. Nature of the Problem Demystifying the nature of domestic violence is critical because, as a public health problem, it has been widely ignored and so little understood. The nature of domestic violence would be effectively understood if the precipitating forms of this act were articulated at large. Domestic violence is majorly characterized by the use of coercive control and psychological abuse. Amongst the most common associates of domestic violence is rape. Rape is a crime involving sexual activity, usually entailing sexual penetration against the victim's will. Basile et al. (2020) signify that rape is a recognizable problem because, amongst American women, victims of rape have higher odds of experiencing chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and frequent headaches than non-victims of rape. Perpetrators of rape can be acquaintances, for instance, rape dates or even one of the partners who assaults the other in a domestic violence 5 context or by strangers. As a result, domestic violence and rape are serious societal problems disproportionately focused on women. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a threshold element that symbolizes the ingrained statute of domestic violence globally. IPV is connoted by the World Health Organization as behavior within an intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm, including physical aggression, sexual coercion, and psychological abuse and controlling behavior (Mikton, 2010). Although intimate partner violence affects both men and women, more women experience IPV. IPV can be supported by male-dominant cultures that necessitate male supremacy in relationships. Such supremacy is responsible for the sailing trends of abusive relationships where women are considered weak, vulnerable, and in apposition to be exploited. Modi et al. (2021) highlight the U.S. as a prime indicator of IPV, with 1.3 to 5.3 million women being subject to oppression annually. IPV becomes a focal point in eliminating the ultimate problem since, on account of statistics provisioned by the U.S. Department of Justice, and there are approximately 572,000 violent victimizations of women by persons they are intimate with annually. For this sole reason, VAWA makes IPV a federal crime when lines are crossed and supports training personnel who provide services to IPV victims. Deprivation of financial and personal resources stems from domestic violence. Economic abuse is a tactic enforced by domestic abuse perpetrators to ensure that their partners do not leave. Financial abuse involves controlling a victim's ability to acquire, use, and maintain financial resources. Financially victimized persons may be prevented from working. As indicated by a report conducted among 72 survivors of domestic violence, almost a third (31.9%) of respondents said the perpetrator controlled their access to money during the relationship. In contrast, a quarter of respondents said that their partner did not let them have money for 6 essentials during the relationship (Women's Aid, 2019). Financial abuse becomes a pivotal problem since with the little money victims may possess, they have to account for every penny utilized. Therefore the victim is left vulnerable to physical abuse and violence. For instance, a victim may feel the need to leave a violent abuser to stay safe, but it is practically impossible without money. Online abuse is a characteristic that is often under looked by individuals. The continuous provisions by VAWA are a justification of this claim. In particular, the 2013 provision focuses on the needs of Native Americans; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gay, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals with regard to common violence indicators such as stalking. Technology and social media have now become new tools for perpetrators. In light of a survey conducted by Women's Aid (2019) in a sample of 693 survivors of domestic abuse, 85 % of them claimed that a partner or ex-partner was monitoring their offline behavior. Online abuse becomes a great problem since perpetrators use social media platforms to instill fear in those they victimize. Drawing reference from ONS (2018), 86% of prosecutions for revenge pornography offenses were domestic-abuserelated in 2018. Likewise, a huge worry lies in the stalking behavior since it can transform into revenge pornography. The extent of the problem Alarming figures of femicides can justify the widespread nature of domestic violence due to patriarchal systems and gender imbalances. Women's Aid (2019) states that in a sample of 139 women killed by men in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 2017, 32 of them were killed at home they shared with the perpetrator, in the majority of cases, their partner or spouse. 26.6% were killed in a home where they lived independently of the perpetrator, whereas their former partners killed 64. In the above case, domestic violence's widespread nature is similarly poor 7 equipping of women to protect themselves upon domestic violence in a patriarchal-powered society may fuel violence nurturing (Ray, 2020). Domestic violence has continued to flourish due to coronavirus, a global pandemic. In India, crimes against women have increased from 4,709 to 5,695 since March 2020, and domestic violence cases have increased from 3,287 to 3,993 during lockdown (The Tribune, 2020). As countries strive to battle Covid-19, they enact school closures, border closures, and even national quarantines. However, as this enactment continues, the loss of income and exposure to habits due to stay-at-home orders have driven up domestic violence incidence. According to Sharma & Borah (2020), families that have never engaged in domestic violence could end up recording cases since economic distress and low income may fuel violence. The shift in responsibilities could also steer violence since abusers have an opportunity of harassing the victims. Worldwide Influence The upsurge of domestic violence cannot be mentioned with the exclusion of IPV. Ever since the novel, Coronavvirus's declaration economies have stagnated, and relationships have been provided with a new glance. Many of the strategies employed in abusive relationships overlap with social measures imposed during the quarantine. As a result, approximately one in three women worldwide will experience sexual or physical IPV in their lifetime (Van Gelder et al., 2020). It is clearly known that domestic violence is rooted in power and control. The economic uncertainty, looming unemployment, and inability to provide for families have added extra stress for many families. The implication is irritability, anger and frustration, and loss of control which may be melted out on children and women in the household in gender-based 8 violence. As a result, the pandemic can be deemed to diminish females' coping capabilities, thus heightening their vulnerabilities. The number of people affected can be dictated by poverty. McManus et al. (2016) argue that 14% of women in poverty have faced extensive violence and abuse compared to women not in poverty. This statement's symbolism is that women in poverty have a higher probability of experiencing the most extensive violence in their lives. The justification of this assertion is offered by Lyons & Brewer (2021), who denotes that the ongoing pandemic in the world has pushed many households into poverty due to the increased rates of unemployment to unprecedented levels. These financial hardships place women on the receiving end since abuse may precipitate itself inform of resource deprivation such as finances. Complexity has been added since during the pandemic, and it is dicey to report an abuser who could be a few meters apart. Specific Subjects Affected The impacts of domestic violence are morally indefensible. Family and domestic violence are some of the most common and severe stressors that children can experience. In a research sample conducted in the U.S. among youths aged 2-17, eight out of ten children have experienced at least one victimization, with the average victimization rate translating to 3.7 (Hellman & Gwinn, 2017). The implication of witnessing domestic violence is that these children experience additional stresses associated with the trauma of repeated separations and may become victims of abuse in the future. In collaboration, Orr et al. (2020) stipulate that exposed children have an increased likelihood of hospitalization than non-exposed children. Behavioral consequences of childhood violence would include self-harming behavior, isolation from peers, self-blame, and even poor performance. 9 Women are deemed to be most affected by domestic violence. Women's Aid (2019) dictates that, on average, 40-60% of women undergoing domestic violence are abused when pregnant. The ramifications of violence on pregnant women cannot be assumed. To begin with, such women often obtain minimal or late antenatal care and are at greater risks of bearing a low birth-weight infant. They may also indulge in alcoholism, which is harmful to their health, and suffer from preterm labor. Disable women are also threatened by domestic violence since they are more likely to be victims of any domestic abuse (ONS, 2018). Long-term effects on abused women can also present themselves. These include loss of quality of life, physical health problems, and even suicide. When domestic violence is mentioned, its impact on the elderly population is undisputed. Mahmoud et al. (2020) dictate that from a sample of 394 elderly population, the percentages of abuse are: financial exploitation (10.2%), physical violence (13.7%), neglect (13.7%), emotional violence (45.9%), and sexual violence (2.8%). Based on most recent studies, this population has displayed unique contrast. Unlike the younger population in which the number of women experiencing abuse is greater than the number of men, similar proportions of men and women are victimized. Financial dependence on an abusive partner conform the victims to oppression and form key barriers to help to seek. As a result, physiological and financial abuse is the most common expression of violence for older women (Macpherson et al., 2020). However, mental and physical health problems are common to both the perpetrator and the victim. Associated factors for such violence include alcohol consumption, functional impairment, and depression. Durable impacts would include self-isolation as a result of shame, a sense of powerlessness, and fear of retaliation. Fatal subdural hemorrhage may also come through in the later stages of life. 10 Perpetrators of domestic violence are also accorded with several outcomes. Domestic violence often creates a feeling of shame and anxiety thoughts on the abuser. Emotional repercussions are also in the receptacle of an abuser's mind. The abuser experiences inner guilt that may double if the victim of abuse was obliged to file for a divorce. Perpetrators of domestic violence are narcissistic individuals who lack self-confidence, have empathy deficiencies, and lack self-confidence. The abusers may suffer from mental health problems in the long-term due to re-offending thoughts that may keep recurring due to feelings of guilt (Zhang & Howard, 2020). Low productivity for those working may also be a result of domestic violence. Lastly, the community may face the threat of high levels of HIV/AIDS. Violence limits the ability of women to protect themselves from HIV. When sexual abuse is involved, the chances of contracting HIV/AIDS are high since the forced sex or rape may limit condom use and cause physical injuries. In the United States, 11.8 percent of new HIV infections among women over 20 during the previous year were attributed to intimate partner violence (Consequences and Costs, 2010). Consequently, women living with HIV/AIDS are often the targets of stigma and abuse. The community, therefore, faces a great burden of administering care to such individuals. In a country's context, public expenditure raises in an attempt to address these health issues. Causes of the Problem According to McManus (2016), one of the prime causes of domestic violence is poverty amongst women. When women in marriages fail to gain financial independence, then they are compelled to depend financially on their spouses. This dependence may confine them to abusive relationships since their spouses may use financial abuse to retain them. Similarly, lack of funds brings financial insecurity, which may make a 11 woman tied to the husband due to her own kids' provision needs. The husband may also feel that he is being depended on so much, and as a result, violence may crop in. Without denial, poverty compels women to oppressive treatments in relationships. Secondly, rigid gender roles may enhance domestic violence. Some societies comprise rigid gender roles in their systems such that women are considered weak and evenly exploited. The cultural mores, economic and political conditions, and religious practices set the incidence for domestic violence perpetration. In some societies, the patriarchal power systems regard men to be superior to women, explaining the battering acceptance (Zhang & Howard, 2020). As a result, fear is instilled in women such that they cannot advocate for better treatment. In such societies, men's dominance is greatly appreciated, and men feel they are exercising a right by punishing their women. Conclusion Domestic violence is widely dispersed conduct that needs collaborative measures to rule it out of the world effectively. The adversity of impacts on the community and individuals call for upholding of already established Acts such as VAWA. However, if policymakers become more vibrant on law compliance, then IPV as the major form of violence can be fully diminished. Similarly, medical education programs and clinical practices should be upheld to confirm domestic violence incidences on time. In so doing, the global health systems will be candid in eliminating domestic violence against women. 12 References Basile, K. C., Smith, S. G., Chen, J., & Zwald, M. (2020). Chronic diseases, health conditions, and other impacts associated with rape victimization of U.S. women. Journal of interpersonal violence, 0886260519900335. Consequences and costs. (2021). Retrieved 9 March 2021, from https://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/301-consequences-and-costs.html#:~:text=Violence%20against%20women%20reduces%20productivity,as%20lost% 20wages%20and%20productivity. Hellman, C. M., & Gwinn, C. (2017). Camp HOPE as an intervention for children exposed to domestic violence: A program evaluation of hope, and strength of character. Child and adolescent social work journal, 34(3), 269-276. Lyons, M., & Brewer, G. (2021). 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Sydney: Corrective Services NSW. . 1 Domestic Violence – Violence Against Women Act of 1994 Section III 2 Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. Policy Intentions ............................................................................................................................. 4 Opportunities Provided by VAWA ................................................................................................. 5 STOP ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Consolidated Youth Oriented Program ....................................................................................... 6 Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Child Enforcement Abuse Assistance Program 7 Tribal Governments program ...................................................................................................... 8 Rape Prevention and Education Grant Program ......................................................................... 9 Short term and Long term goals...................................................................................................... 9 Administrative Auspices ............................................................................................................... 10 Evaluating Performance ................................................................................................................ 11 Funding Expiration ....................................................................................................................... 11 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 12 References ..................................................................................................................................... 13 3 Abstract This paper aims to study VAWA's performance, its intentions, resources it provides, its short-term and long-term goals, administrative auspices, and its funding expiration. From the research, VAWA steps out to be a solid act whose impact is to be appraised. The policy intentions can be termed to be resilient in the global situation since domestic violence often ignores malpractice. The prolonged looming distress on domestic violence will undoubtedly seize since VAWA dedicates its efforts towards eradicating domestic violence amongst women by integrating sound provisions. To avert domestic violence, the reauthorization of VAWA has been done to incorporate grant programs. A number of the programs highlighted by this research paper include Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors Grant Program (STOP), Consolidated Youth Oriented Program, Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Child Enforcement Abuse Assistance Program, Tribal Governments program, and Rape Prevention and Education Grant Program. Each of these programs has been extensively covered on its foundation, how it is funded, and how it is implemented. As a debated act, the short-term and long-term goals have been highlighted to summarize its effective grants. From the paper, OVW, OVP, and CDC reveal themselves as great drivers of VAWA programs. The paper also provides a guideline on how VAWA's performance can be evaluated formally and justifying its existence despite FY2019 expirations. The paper concludes that for success, consistency in the administration of OVW, OVP, and CDC is paramount. 4 Domestic Violence – Violence Against Women Act of 1994 Violence against women is present in innumerable societies and often goes unnoticed when accepted as a mere norm. The direct link between public health dimensions of violence, legal issues, and human rights is not to be ignored. Natural consequences accrue to victimized women as well as their families and society at large. Therefore, the health sector has a critical role to play alongside judicial and social services. In light of this matter, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), since its enactment in 1994, has faced significant support to avert domestic violence. Amongst its inherent functions are authorized programs to address violence against women. As a result, this paper aims to study its performance, the policy intentions, resources it provides, short-term and long-term goals, administrative auspices, and its funding expiration. Policy Intentions The formulation of VAWA can be associated with the need to avert domestic violence. According to Sacco (2018), VAWA was ultimately spurred on by the distress over prevailing violent crime rates, with women being the focal point as the crime victims. Domestic violence precipitates inform of Intimate Partner Violence, which is accountable for the high number of victims and enormous healthcare costs. Worldwide, one in every three women must experience IPV in their lifetime (WHO, 2020). As a result, eradicating domestic violence amongst women could be achieved by integrating sound VAWA provisions that would extensively cover global populations. VAWA provisions address IPV and sexual violence against same-sex partners, immigrants, Native Americans, and transgender people. Consequently, VAWA amplifies prosecution and investigation of sexual offenses by authorizing victims of specified federal 5 sexual crimes to be reconstituted and permitting the sentencing of repeat federal sex offenders (Sacco, 2018). Such framing would diminish the numbers of sexual violence. Opportunities Provided by VAWA As VAWA seeks to combat domestic violence, it has been authorized by Congress several times. These reauthorizations can be associated with several programs to help the local law enforcement provide essential services to victims of violent crimes and fight violent crimes. Likewise, these programs offer a unique glance of violence against women from various angles, including private and public entities, service providers, law enforcement, and crime victims (Sacco, 2018). VAWA grant programs are found based on two core values. These are: promoting collaboration among judicial personnel, private/ public sectors, and law enforcement concerning services for domestic violence victims and addressing needs of special populations such as children and youth, elderly and disabled, nonimmigrant women, and persons of racial and ethnic communities. The major programs that VAWA contains are Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors Grant Program (STOP), Consolidated Youth Oriented Program, Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Child Enforcement Abuse Assistance Program, Tribal Governments program, and Rape Prevention and Education Grant Program. STOP STOP supports societies to affirm and create productive law enforcement and prosecution strategies that are essential in combating violent crimes against women. Sacco (2018) stipulates that this program is also geared at improving criminal justice response and enhancing advocacy of violent crime-related cases. Under the Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women is the administrative agency that oversees this program. In the most recent changes, STOP responds to backlogs of sexual assault evidence. It enhances best procedures such as 6 developing related coordinated community responses (CCRs) and Sexual Assault Response Teams to be used in combating stalking, sexual assault, and dating violence. This program responds to any sexual assault that is linked with men, women, and the youth. VAWA programs are funded through apportions made by the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Departments of Justice (DOJ). STOP is the highest spending program, thus increased funding. In Financial Year (FY) 2015, STOP enacted $ 195 out of the authorized $222 (Sacco, 2018). However, it is important to denote that this program covers only some states. These eligible applicants include American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S Virgin Islands. Actual implementation involves the enforcement of protection orders directed to programs that handle sexual assault meaningfully. Individuals affected by violent crimes can be referred to human service providers, the state and territorial governments, and localities (including law enforcement) where necessary action is taken. As a result, the funding allocated to this program should only cater for direct victim services and train for prosecution or law enforcement (Aday, 2015). Consolidated Youth Oriented Program This program is a receptacle of four VAWA programs: Supporting Teens Through Education Program (STEP), Grants to Assist Children and Youth Exposed to Violence, Engaging Men and Youth in Prevention, and Services to Advocate and Respond to Youth. The office runs a consolidated Youth Oriented Program on Violence Against Women. As a result, the funds this program receives are also an apportionment of the Departments of Justice (DOJ). The VAWA (2019) ascertains that in the FY2018-FY2019 appropriations, this program was associated with $ 11. This program has two constraints that every project should attain if support has to be 7 guaranteed. First and foremost are any prevention modes that entail society organizing, public education, outreach, and mobilization with men being the mentors of boys and men and harnesses to collaborate with girls and women to prevent DDSS (domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking). The second constraint provided is that the project should be comprehensive youth and child-oriented to intervene and prevent the DDSS through evidence-informed practices and maximization of community-based efforts. The entities allowed to apply for this program are nonprofit organizations, non-governmental agencies, or tribal governments that render services to youth or children exposed to DDSS (Sacco, 2018). This program addresses the DDSS cases that are linked with youths, children as well as adult victims. Such suits can be referenced to the nearby local authorities. The VAWA (2019) denotes that policy implementation entails defining the demographics since teenagers are also at the risk of domestic violence. Regardless of the organization's eligibility, the organization must possess documentation that illustrates a history of practical work concerning youth or children affected by DDSS. Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Child Enforcement Abuse Assistance Program Likewise, this program is run by Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). This program's primary objective is to enhance DDSS victims' safety (Sacco, 2018). Enhancing victims' safety is done by supporting the developed projects to avert and address DDSS crimes in rural jurisdictions. Through Office on Violence Against Women agency, victims are mandated legal assistance to curb violent crime if done at the family level. As a branch of the DOJ, OVW administers funding to this program based on the provided apportionments. Through this funding, partnerships are convened between state, local, and service providers to stamp DDSS. In the FY2018-FY2019 apportionments, $42 was allocated to this program (The VAWA, 2019). 8 Sacco (2018) states that territories, states which are the Commonwealth of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands; District of Columbia, units of local government, and organizations such as tribal organizations, nonprofit, public or private organizations can apply for this program. However, the statute must be adhered to. This means that the applicant must propose individual service in rural communities or rural areas. The organizations mentioned above must have expertise in developing community-based interventions or join hands with organizations with such knowledge for excellent application suitability. The program is rather extensive since it captures children, the married adults, dating men and women, and youths who may be at their early relationship stages. Tribal Governments program The VAWA (2019) demarcates that this program's goal is to formulate and magnify productive protocols for tribal governments to diminish violence against victims of DDSS and belong to the American-Indian group. The program also provides legal and transitional housing assistance, addresses the needs of toddlers who by-stand domestic violence and improves the potential of a tribal government to respond to DDSS cases. Once victimized, the preferable option would be reporting to the judicial services within the tribal government. As a discretionary grant program, the OVW is in charge of its funding and administration. In FY2015, the DOJ set aside $38.98 for this program's functions (Sacco, 2018). This program is implemented by expanding the domestic violence definition applied for tribal jurisdiction and enforcing protection orders over all persons, including non-tribal members. Also, encouraging DDSS treatment as a big crime and implementing arrest policies would be imperative. Tribal governments, as well as their authorized designees, are eligible for application. However, they 9 are only suitable if they have partnered with eligible organizations or programs that provide culture-oriented services. Rape Prevention and Education Grant Program Although OVW administers a significant percentage of VAWA grants on provisioned programs, other federal agencies such as the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also manage the VAWA programs. In this case, Rape Prevention and Education Grant Program is managed by CDC. This program aims to foster sexual violence ward off attempts in the territories and states (Sacco, 2018). In the achievement of this program, measures have been put in place to ensure full implementation. These include developing hotline operations, educational seminars, and creating educational materials that shall increase awareness. This program receives funds for its operations from the DOJ. Each year, the federal government must allocate substantial amounts to the realization of the program. The VAWA (2019) ascertains that territories and states such as the Commonwealth of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands; District of Columbia, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The victimized parties can seek assistance from the relevant state and local authorities. Being a recognized program, the oppressed stand a chance of being listened to, whereas the criminal may be apprehended in court. In rape cases, the child's mother has a right to seek termination of the rapist's parental rights through a court order. Short term and Long term goals VAWA is a tough act whose impact keeps on prevailing in daily lives. This is mainly because its formulation can be termed to be rather fruitful and influential. With gendered 10 violence being a global debate, VAWA has led to creating a system-wide response to DDSS. Drawing reference from Aday (2015), the long-term goal of VAWA has always been attaining institutionalized system change whereby criminal and civil justice systems and community agencies that relay support and services give victims positive and effective responses. However, it is undeniable that as the ongoing efforts prevail, short-term goals have also been formulated. Among them include changing the status quo and policy stagnation to ensure domestic violence is curbed. Currently, the number of domestic violence cases have reduced since its legislation where IPV prevalence has diminished, thus a positive impact (Fanslow et al., 2021) Administrative Auspices One of the most significant outputs of VAWA is providing services to survivors/victims of these crimes by developing funding streams that provide financial support to the sectors and agencies responding to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) crimes. However, to achieve this, services rendered must be geared towards reaching the massive numbers of citizens. As a result, various organizations and agencies have come along. According to Aday (2015), VAWA programs have been effective since the federal governments have created numerous offices that guarantee extensive coverage. These offices include OVW, OVP, and CDC. These three offices have been formulated after the partnership of DOJ and HSS. OVP, OVW, and CDC's efficiency have accrued significant benefits since the VAWA grants and programs are now being monitored. The three offices mentioned above act as administrative units that promote discretionary and formula-based funding to local, state, tribal governments, nonprofit, public, and private organizations in addressing DDSS (Aday, 2015). As a result of these divisions in administrative posts, the services trice down from the federal governments to the communities in stable distribution channels. 11 Evaluating Performance VAWA's success can only be determined through a quantifiable approach. This is achieved through the interaction between federal agencies such as the CDC and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Adam (2015) justifies performance evaluation by stating that Congress and the White House evaluate reports that are achieved after federal agencies assess victimization rates. With these reports, the Congressional hearings can come up with reauthorization procedures that improve VAWA programs' performance. Formal measures could also include surveys by statistical teams to ensure that the data captured is consistent and accurate. For instance, based on a study by National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, a CDC entity, it was noted that almost 14% and 24.5 % of men and women respectively encounter IPV in their lifetime (Aday, 2015). Such statistics are imperative performance indicators since the VAWA provisions can be reviewed again to ensure the threat of domestic violence is stamped out of society. As a result, the performance of VAWA can only be determined through standard measures such as research. Funding Expiration Authorizations for appropriations of all VAWA programs expired since FY2019 despite several extensions of authorizations. However, the authorizations' expiration has not hindered VAWA programs from their operation since VAWA programs were funded in FY2019 as they had been invested in FY2018 (The VAWA, 2019). This statement indicates that due to the reduction of victimization rates from federal reports, Congress still believes that VAWA needs to keep sailing due to its net benefits. As long as the positive impacts of VAWA are being felt, there are no signs of dissolving this policy. 12 Conclusion The efforts by Congress to reauthorize VAWA are commendable. Due to the programs formulated, then dating violence, sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking crimes where women are the core victimization subjects can be effectively curbed. However, it is crucial to understand that administers of VAWA programs have had a significant role in realizing VAWA's objectives. If the long-term goal of VAWA has to be attained, then consistency is paramount. Therefore, Congress should look for ways to ensure stable administration in these posts is guaranteed. 13 References Aday, T. (2015). The effectiveness of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in creating system-level change. SPNHA Review, 11(1), 3. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1042&context=spnhareview Fanslow, J., Hashemi, L., Malihi, Z., Gulliver, P., & McIntosh, T. (2021). Change in prevalence rates of physical and sexual intimate partner violence against women: data from two cross-sectional studies in New Zealand, 2003 and 2019. BMJ Open, 11(3), e044907. Sacco, L. N. (2018). The violence against women act: Overview, legislation, and federal funding. Congressional Research Service. https://www.utsystem.edu/sites/default/files/offices/police/files/annual-promotionalexams/vawa.pdf The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Historical Overview, Funding, and Reauthorization. (2019). https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R45410.html World Health Organization. (2020). Clinical management of rape and intimate partner violence survivors: developing protocols for use in humanitarian settings. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331535/9789240001411-eng.pdf 1 Domestic Violence – Violence Against Women Act of 1994 Section IV Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Violence against Women Act of 1994 ............................................................................................ 3 Q1. The legality of VAWA's Policy Goals ..................................................................................... 4 Q2. Contribution to Social Equality................................................................................................ 6 Q3. Adverse Effects of Goals on Quality Of Life .......................................................................... 8 2 Q4. Goals' Consistency with Values of Professional Work ............................................................ 9 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 10 References ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Abstract The Violence against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) was passed into law to address domestic violence by fostering awareness and providing services for victims. VAWA programs focus on crimes of stalking, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), sexual assault, and dating violence. Although there has been a decrease in gender-based violence (GBV), some of the legislation's 3 policy goals have been deemed illegal. In the first question, the paper will mention some cases that have challenged the constitutionality of VAWA. They include Brzonkala v. Virginia Polytechnic and State University, the United States v. Lopez, and Seaton v. Seaton. They are based on proving the extent of Congress's power under the Commerce Clause. The second question will look into VAWA goals and demonstrate how they have led to greater social equality. The act has increased awareness of domestic violence both at the local and federal level, such that the latter term it is a crime. The third question discusses VAWA's adverse effects on the quality of life of the targeted population. Although the act's primary purpose is eliminating violence in communities, it does not lead to the people's cohesion. It leans and depends on the criminal justice system that it does not view domestic violence as a societal problem that needs follow-ups. As long as criminals are brought to justice, the victims win. The final question is concerned about VAWA's goals consistency with professional social work values. The act aligns with the NAW's ethical standards that emphasize privacy, confidentiality, and commitment to clients. Keywords: VAWA, domestic violence, IPV, GBV Violence against Women Act of 1994 Violence against Women Act (VAWA) was signed into law in 1994 to combat and protect women and men against violent abuses in their settings. The act's goals have been subject to controversy, and people question VAWA's contribution to greater social equality. Thus, the paper will answer questions related to the policy goals legitimacy, their contribution to social 4 equality, report any adverse effects, and establish whether they are consistent with professional social work values. The Constitutionality of VAWA's Policy Goals VAWA's fundamental goals are to prevent criminal activities against women, respond to victims' needs, collaborate with social institutions to change public attitudes, and learn more about crime. Although the purpose is to protect women against violence, some of the goals have attracted national debate and even been deemed unconstitutional by the court of law. One of the most notable cases against VAWA's civil rights provision was filed in 1995, and the court held that VAWA's remedy for civil rights was illegitimate. The Brzonkala v. Virginia Polytechnic and State University case involves a former Virginia Tech scholar, Brzonkala claiming justice for rape claims against two footballers, Antonio Morrison and James Crawford (Parsons, 2020). Eileen Wagner, Brzonkala's attorney, filed the case through VAWA's Title III that has provisions for violations against gender animus. This portion of VAWA's statute states that all United States citizens have a right to be free from gender-motivated crimes. Wagner argued that the incident was not a random act of violence but an act inspired by discriminatory hostility towards the plaintiff's gender. The court dismissed the claim saying VAWA lacked the authority to establish this civil cause of action under either the 14th Amendment section 5 or the Commerce Clause. Under the latter, Congress has no right to enact federal civil compensation. By law, a congressional enactment is invalidated if the constitutional bounds of Congress are exceeded. The 14th Amendment has a principle that allows for prohibition for the state but not private action. While the evidence showed the rape case was due to Brzonkala's gender, VAWA's civil policy lacked the right legal power to be applied in the court of law. 5 The ability to restrict VAWA's power under the commerce clause was experienced shortly after the law was enacted. In the United States v. Lopez, the court held that the 1990 GunFree School Zones Act (GFSZA) was unlawful. The statute prohibited the knowing possession of weapons in an area reasonably believed to be an education center. Lopez involved the defendant, 12th-grade Alfonzo Lopez, with a concealed firearm in his Texas high school. The Texas law charged him with carrying a weapon, charges which were dismissed with violation of GFSZA. The highest court overturned his guilty verdict since gun possession on the school premises is not an economic activity or "commerce." The Congress had its law struck down for exceeding its external power limits under the commerce provision. After several deliberations, the Supreme Court speculated that certain parts of the Lopez would confuse decisions in the future. The projection became a reality as constitutional challenges followed suit on the grounds of exceeding legal authority. VAWA was not an exception as most of the reported cases, such as Brzonkala v. Virginia Polytechnic and State University, disputed the civil rights set up. Another Lopez-based case followed Brzonkala. The Seaton v. Seaton case involves an action brought forward by Laurel Knuckles Seaton against her husband in a high-profile divorce. She claimed damages for her civil rights violation and compensation for several torts under VAWA. The divorce was filed after she had been pushed to the limit by her husband's deceitful, controlling, and abusive conduct in which she was the recipient. The defendant, Mr. Seaton, filed a motion to dismiss the judgment. He was required to pay the plaintiff costs related to the litigation, such as attorney fees, injunctive relief, and punitive and exemplary damages. His argument was based on the unconstitutional nature of VAWA's civil rights provision. The court rejected his dismissal request. Unlike in Lopez, it was held that the legislative findings contained elements of consequences of effects of abuse on interstate commerce. Although activity may not 6 be perceptibly commercial, there may be a rational basis on how gender-based violence can limit local economic production. From the assertion, the court concluded that the many litigations against Congress demonstrated a logical approach to how domestic violence might affect internal commerce (Sacco, 2019). Most of the challenges against the civil rights provision in the VAWA had to consider the rational basis between GBV and commerce. The act is not commercial on the surface, but its goal is to promote the community's well-being, which impacts performance. Contribution to Social Equality Before VAWA was enacted in 1994, most convicted rapists were not jailed, and their partners committed almost a third of all homicides on women. The passing of the enactment was an extension to social equality because it indicated the acknowledgment of sexual and domestic violence as crimes by the federal legislation. The act has developed community-coordinated reactions to the way Gender Based Violence (GBV) is investigated. In the past, female victims may have lacked a platform to demand justice, but VAWA makes litigation filings a little easier. It discretionary funds communities to provide them with the financial ability to pursue GBV cases. The presence of VAWA has led to greater collaboration with agencies including healthcare, prosecution, and social service to ensure all the needs of victims are addressed, and no defendant is prosecuted unlawfully. An example of increased collaboration is the STOP Grant Program, a grant provision by VAWA that strengthens and develops law strategies that increase the capability of combating GBV. VAWA has also reduced victimization. According to Kirven (2019), incidences involving fatal and nonfatal sexual assault and verbal or mental abuse have decreased significantly since the act was passed. As reported by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, victimization of females between 1993 and 2008 decreased from 9.4 to 4.3 victimizations per 1,000 women. Also, 7 violence against men reduced from 1.8 to 0.8 victimizations per 1,000 males. Further, the report indicates that between 1994 and 2010, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) declined from 2.1 million to 907,000 (Owens, 2017). All these declines after VAWA were passed into law. It insisted on placing women at par with men and trying as much as possible to crimes based on gender. Nonetheless, the reduction does not include the overall offense. Under the 2013 VAWA reauthorization, the act increased its social justice spectrum by protecting same-sex couples. According to Cannon (2019), the LGBTQ community faces domestic violence as other community members at 25% to 33%. Sometimes heterosexual couples experience lesser IPV than those in LGBTQ relationships. Previously, the legislation did not have provisions for same-sex couples despite the spread of the community across states. in fact, its services did not accommodate their sexual orientation, and those who sought assistance were turned away. The 2013 redefinition includes protection for IPV LGBTQ victims. A nondiscrimination clause against LGBTQ being turned away was created to ensure members receive services despite their sexual identity. Finally, VAWA serves social justice goals by protecting human trafficking victims. The 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act report uncovered that 50,000 people unlawfully enter the US each year through trafficking (Kim et al., 2018). Children and women are trafficked disproportionately because their education is inaccessible, leading to a lack of employment opportunities in the host countries. It is not uncommon for women to be lured by fake promises into networks that subject them to the same victimization as the one experienced by victims of IPV. It could be financial control, intimidation, sexual violence, and restriction of physical movement. VAWA amendments have appropriations to allow all victims of human trafficking to 8 get a day in court. The enactment provides a platform despite the financial capability of the victims because their main goal is to maintain and enhance social justice. Adverse Effects of Goals on Quality Of Life Despite the progress it has made in addressing domestic violence, VAWA goals may have adverse effects on the community it is trying to help. Criminologists question its ability to deter crime of any kind, while the act's supporters base their argument on decreasing overall criminal activities by addressing GBV. The exacerbations in criminalizing domestic violence are the leading cause of VAWA's shortcomings. For example, men who have criminal records before are likely to victimize females because they cannot find work. They end up incarcerated after being found under the VAWA act. Upon release, the law offenders are likely to bring back their traumas into intimate relationships creating a cycle (Glantz et al., 2017). The enactment does not have a way of reducing recidivism. It focuses solely on removing domestic violence criminals from the community, forgetting they might be released into the same society. From the assertion, it can be concluded that although rates of IPVs have reduced, VAWA causes more issues in the overall population than lowering them. Secondly, overreliance on the criminal justice system means VAWA's response to domestic violence is often as harsh as possible. The enactment was created when crimes against women increased unprecedentedly, and most of them were horrific. The Republicans and Democrats seemed to agree that the answer to this violence is to be as challenging as possible to discourage offenders. The response today is the same. While domestic violence is a severe crime, the goal of VAWA should not concentrate mainly on persecuting offenders. Instead, its funds should be aimed at uncovering the preexisting causes of IPV and other social crimes based on gender. It could use the monies to train and create jobs for women and men to reduce the 9 frustrations that may lead to violence. Also, community-based programs provided by the act could be formed to challenge society's customs around violence. For example, substance abuse has been one of the contributors to domestic violence. For example, having a program such as Father for Change could address addictions. Contrary, VAWA does not assist vulnerable members in intervening productively and addressing instabilities that may lead to GBV. There are promising provisions that might be beyond criminal justice, but currently, VAWA is causing more issues than solving them. Finally, the large percentage of people served by VAWA are women, although the act insists its services are for both genders. While it is an anti-domestic violence approach, the enactment defines females as victims, meaning most perpetrators are men. Resultative, men are not perceived to have the same vulnerabilities as women concerning domestic violence. For instance, the domestic violence centers funded by VAWA programs routinely turn away males while offering excellent services to children and women. The efforts of VAWA do not concentrate on the male victims creating an impression that only women victims need exceptional protection. Instead of being ideologically inspired, it is driven by a bureaucracy that does not place the human solutions at the center. Goals' Consistency with Values of Professional Work Despite the shortcomings in VAWA, its goals are consistent with professional social work values. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) designed ethical standards pertinent to all social work activities. They are concerned with professionals' responsibilities to communities, ethical conduct in their work, setting, broader society, and colleagues. VAWA observes commitment to clients, provided in 1.01. NASW states that the primary responsibility of social workers is to promote the overall well-being of the affected society (Hebenstreit, 2017). 10 VAWA ensures all victims' interests in domestic violence are addressed. If it is unsolvable, the enactment has centers where clients can shelter temporarily or permanently. The NASW exempts paying primary attention to client's interests if they cause harm to other members of the affected community. This exemption binds VAWA. For instance, it may separate a child from the mother if she is a danger to herself and others. Self-harm can be caused to continuous exposure to abusive partners. VAWA observes the privacy and confidentiality value in 1.07. The NASW demands that all social workers should respect the privacy of their clients. They should not solicit any information unless it is required for the course they are pursuing. VAWA does not coerce the victims into providing them with information about the abuse. Instead, the legislation creates a platform where victims can share their experiences without the perpetrators' knowledge. It strengthens this value by barring the federal government officials from releasing information about VAWA cases. Also, it does not share the information unless required by the court of law. The provisions provided by NASW are that workers can use their professional reasoning to prevent foreseeable and severe harm. They may be mandated to share the information with affected participants. VAWA observes the provision and only provides the least amount of personal data according to the desired purpose. Conclusion In summary, some of the VAWA provisions have been unlawful, but the enactment has decreased domestic violence since it was enacted in 1994. It has led to greater social justice, but it has not adequately made the affected community more cohesive. Thus, as reauthorizations occur, they should consider how society can be united after victims have received justice. 11 References 12 Cannon, C. E. (2019). What services exist for LGBTQ perpetrators of intimate partner violence in batterer intervention programs across North America? A qualitative study. Partner abuse, 10(2), 222-242. Glantz, T., Harrison, J., & Cable, A. (2017). Trauma and recidivism: Informing assessment and treatment options for incarcerated men. International Review of Modern Sociology, 95118. Hebenstreit, H. (2017). The National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and Cultural Competence: What Does Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Teach Us Today?. Health & social work, 42(2), 103-107. Kim, H. W., Park, T., Quiring, S., & Barrett, D. (2018). The anti-human trafficking collaboration model and serving victims: Providers' perspectives on the impact and experience. Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 15(2), 186-203. Kirven, S. J. (2019). Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and Reauthorization Act of 2013. The Encyclopedia of Women and Crime, 1-4. Owens, J. G. (2017). Revealing victimization: The impact of methodological features in the National Crime Victimization Survey. Violence and Victims, 32(4), 688-713. Parsons, C. (2020). A Call to the United States to Protect Victims Fleeing from Intimate Partner Violence. Quinnipiac Health Law Journal, 24, 99. Sacco, L. N. (2019). The violence against women act (VAWA): historical overview, funding, and reauthorization. In Congressional Research Service. CRS Report.

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