Jolie dedicated years to advocating alongside the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other organizations in efforts to renew and enhance the law to better support survivors.
Actress Angelina Jolie, who also serves as a UN special envoy for refugees, expressed to NBC News that the newly passed Violence Against Women Act has been long overdue and holds personal significance for her. Jolie has been a strong advocate for the updated law for a significant amount of time, emphasizing that it is relevant to everyone who values family, children, personal safety, and community well-being.
“I believe that this country is not fully aware of the severity of its domestic violence and child abuse issues,” she expressed.
Be sure to tune in to the interview airing tonight on “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT (or check your local NBC station).
The Violence Against Women Act, a significant law passed in 1994, established grant programs for states to offer support and shelter to abuse victims, as well as training to enhance the legal system’s handling of domestic violence cases. Despite expiring in 2018, the Act has been renewed three times, each time with improved protections for victims (Congress has continued to fund its initiatives in the years since).
The Senate approved the reauthorization of the act last week as part of a significant $1.5 trillion budget plan. This bill not only averted a government shutdown but also allocated funds for Pell Grants, emergency aid for Ukraine, and various other programs. President Joe Biden had made a promise during his campaign to enact this bill within his first 100 days in office. Although this timeframe was not met, Biden signed the bill on Tuesday. Angelina Jolie, a well-known human rights activist, has been advocating for this law’s renewal and improvement for years. Her own experiences with the family court system during her divorce from Brad Pitt have inspired her to push for changes in the system.
One of the key additions to the updated act is Kayden’s Law, named after a tragic incident involving a young girl in Pennsylvania. This new provision focuses on how family courts handle cases involving abuse allegations during custody disputes. It includes measures to enhance the training of judges, specify qualifications for expert testimonies, and encourage states to revise their laws to limit therapies that prioritize reunification over safety in cases of abuse.
