The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides national leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence against women through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Currently, OVW administers one formula grant program and eleven discretionary grant programs, all of which were established under VAWA and subsequent legislation. Since its inception, OVW has awarded nearly $3 billion in grants and cooperative agreements, and has launched a multifaceted approach to implementing VAWA. By forging state, local, and tribal partnerships among police, prosecutors, victim advocates, health care providers, faith leaders, and others, OVW grant programs help provide victims with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, while simultaneously enabling communities to hold offenders accountable for their violence.

In addition to overseeing 12 federal grant programs, OVW often undertakes a number of special initiatives in response to areas of special need, dedicating resources to develop enhancements in areas requiring particular attention or in communities facing particularly acute challenges. OVW special initiatives include, but are not limited to, the Judicial Oversight Demonstration Initiative, the President's Family Justice Center Initiative, the Safety for Indian Women from Sexual Assault Offenders Demonstration Initiative, and the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Forensic Exams. These special initiatives allow OVW to explore different innovations in the violence against women field and share knowledge that can be replicated nationwide.