The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a landmark bipartisan United States federal law first passed in 1994 as Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 3355) and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994. It was enacted to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of violence against women, providing $1.6 billion in initial funding for investigation, prosecution, and victim resources. The law introduced mandatory restitution for convicted offenders, permitted civil lawsuits when prosecutors declined to pursue charges, and established the Office on Violence Against Women within the U.S. Department of Justice to oversee implementation.

VAWA has been reauthorized and expanded multiple times (2000, 2005, 2013, and most recently in 2022 through the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act, extending programs through FY2027) to address evolving needs, including enhanced protections for Native American women, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and expanded services such as hotlines, shelters, legal aid, and prevention education. While bipartisan in origin, reauthorizations have faced political debates around issues like gun control and tribal jurisdiction.

The act has profoundly impacted U.S. policy on gender-based violence, funding thousands of programs nationwide and shifting societal and legal approaches. It remains a cornerstone of women's rights and public safety policy, though critics advocate for further expansions to address enforcement gaps and coverage for underserved populations.