Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Presidential Documents 80371 

Proclamation 10826 of September 30, 2024 

National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention 

Month, 2024 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Domestic violence affects millions of Americans across our Nation with 

devastating consequences for survivors, families, and entire communities. 

Everyone deserves to live free from the fear of violence, especially in their 

own home. During National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention 

Month, we recommit to extending support and resources to all survivors, 

continuing to hold perpetrators accountable, and ensuring that our society 

is truly safe for everyone. 

Just last month, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against 

Women Act (VAWA), which I wrote and championed as a United States 

Senator. It is one of the pieces of legislation of which I am most proud. 

VAWA established a coordinated, nationwide response to gender-based violence, lifting social and legal burdens off survivors and onto perpetrators, 

where they belong. It directed critical funding toward increasing resources 

for survivors, strengthened efforts to prevent and prosecute sexual assault, 

and funded rape crisis centers and shelters to support survivors. It also 

created the Nation’s first-ever National Domestic Violence Hotline, which 

has provided millions of Americans with lifesaving support, answering its 

seven millionth contact this past year. 

My Administration recognizes that there is still more work to do. Between 

30 and 40 percent of Americans are impacted by sexual abuse, physical 

violence, or stalking—including online—by an intimate partner throughout 

their lifetimes. Over the years, I have spoken with countless brave survivors 

of domestic violence, who have shared the devastating toll this abuse takes 

on all aspects of their lives. Their stories are also marked by a deep courage 

and resilience. Above all, they have made clear that even one case of 

domestic violence is too many and goes against who we are as a Nation. 

In 2022, I signed into law the reauthorization of VAWA that included 

its highest funding level to date, expanding protections to ensure that they 

reach the most vulnerable communities. These funds will continue to 

strengthen the public health response for domestic violence survivors and 

their children, expand access to medical forensic examinations, and increase 

support for culturally specific resources in marginalized communities. Additionally, Tribal courts now have jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators 

of sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking, and assaults on 

Tribal lands. And we are making sure that VAWA programs are implemented 

in rural communities across the Nation. 

We all have a sacred duty to ensure that no one experiences abuse. That 

is why my Administration is taking important steps to prevent domestic 

violence and protect survivors and their families. We released the firstever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which laid out a Government-wide approach to prevent and address all forms of gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and stalking. 

Knowing that domestic violence and gun violence are deeply interconnected, 

my Administration established the first-ever White House Office of Gun 

Violence Prevention, which is overseen by the Vice President, who has 


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80372 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Presidential Documents 

spent her career combatting crimes against women and children. And I 

signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act—the most significant gun safety 

law in decades—which is helping to keep guns out of the hands of domestic 

abusers and felons. Last year, the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence 

Against Women awarded over $600 million in grants to address genderbased violence, and through the American Rescue Plan, we have directed 

an additional $1 billion in funding for rape crisis centers, culturally specific 

community support organizations, and other domestic violence and sexual 

assault services. 

We are also taking action to combat the growing threat of cybercrimes 

and online harassment. We are increasing access to services and support 

for survivors of technology-facilitated gender-based violence and ensuring 

that law enforcement is better equipped to prevent, enforce, and prosecute 

cybercrimes, including technology abuse by an intimate partner. Furthermore, 

the Vice President and I worked together to create a Federal task force 

that helped launch the first 24/7 national helpline for survivors of imagebased abuse. We are also directing Federal agencies to address sexual violence 

and sexual harassment in the workplace and in schools, and I have spearheaded historic military justice reforms to protect survivors of domestic 

violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence in our 

military. 

I remain proud of the progress that has been made in recent decades to 

combat domestic violence and violence in all forms, but I know that there 

is more work to be done to ensure that every American is safe. During 

National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and every 

month, we must lend our unwavering support to survivors and continue 

to call upon our fellow Americans to treat everyone with dignity and respect. 

If you or someone you know is in need of support, immediate and confidential help is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline 

by visiting thehotline.org, calling 1–800–799–7233 (TTY 1–800–787–3224), 

or texting ‘‘START’’ to 88788. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as 

National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. I call upon 

our country to change the social norms that tolerate domestic violence, 

provide meaningful support to survivors, and express gratitude to those 

working diligently on prevention and response efforts. Together, we can 

transform the country and build a Nation where all people live free from 

violence. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Presidential Documents 80373 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day 

of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of 

the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 

forty-ninth. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23000 

Filed 10–2–24; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F4–P 


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