Barack Obama Signed Into Law the Violence against Women Act Reauthorization 2013

The US President, Barack Obama on 7 March 2013 signed into law, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization 2013 in Washington. 

The Violence Against Women Act was first passed in 1994. Reauthorised since then, the new Act offers support to the organisations which serve to the victims of domestic violence. Usually, the local authorities are responsible for criminal prosecutions of abusers, but now the Act made a stricter sentence for stalking under the federal law. 

Under the original Violence Against Women Act, following issues are dealt with:

• Acid throwing 
• Breast ironing 
• Bride burning 
• Dating abuse 
• Domestic violence 
• Domestic violence and pregnancy 
• Dowry death 
• Honor killing 
• Female genital mutilation 
• Gishiri cutting
• Infibulation  
• Foot binding 
• Forced abortion 
• Forced pregnancy 
• Forced prostitution 
• Human trafficking 
• Marital rape 
• Murder of pregnant women 
• Rape Pregnancy 
• Sexual slavery 
• Sexual violence 
• Violence against prostitutes

Violence Against Women Act of 1994

• The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 is primarily a US Federal Law which was signed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. 
• The Act established the Office on Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice. 

Signing of Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization 2013

The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization 2013 was passed on the vote of 286 to 138. 199 Democrats joined 87 Republicans in the support of this reauthorization act of 1994 law. 

Changes incorporated

• The new Act creates as well as expands the federal programs for helping local communities for the purpose of law enforcement as well as helping the victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. 
• The most important feature was offering protection to the transgender, bisexual and gay victims of the domestic abuse.