Western Washington, Gender-Based Violence, Washington 2023

Western Washington Awarded $3.8M to Combat Gender-Based Violence

In a major victory for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Western Washington has been awarded nearly $3.8 million in grant funding to support community responses to gender-based violence.

The funding, provided by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), is part of the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program, which aims to promote a coordinated community response among law enforcement, prosecution, courts, victim services organizations, and other community services to ensure the safety of survivors.

Acting US Attorney Tessa Gorman commented, 'I am pleased to announce that Western Washington has been awarded funding from the Office on Violence Against Women. Prosecution of those who commit violence against women, along with supporting victim services is integral to the work of our office. We are very appreciative of the benefit these grants will have on our community.'

VAWA's signature program is the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program, which awards funds to every U.S. state and territory to promote a coordinated community response among law enforcement, prosecution, courts, victim services organizations, and other community services to ensure the safety of survivors.

According to OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo, 'Prior to the enactment of VAWA, survivors were primarily left to fend for themselves, often cycling in and out of dangerous environments with little help from legal systems or service providers.'

The grant funding will be used to enhance the capacity for the Western Washington community to develop programs to end gender-based violence and hold offenders accountable. The U.S. Attorney's Office for Western Washington is committed to providing vital support to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) provides leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

In commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the original enactment of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Justice Department announced nearly $193 million in formula and discretionary grant awards to support crucial services and justice responses for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/us-attorneys-office-western-washington-celebrates-funding-awarded-community-responses