Victims have waited long enough for justice. The federal government on both parties has made it a mission to protect women.
Three recent federal laws protect rape victims. Politics have finally begun protecting the rights of survivors.
These laws are necessary for a democracy to encourage the reporting of sexual assault.
VAWA
The Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, is a federal rape shield law that protects victims from having
their sexual past questioned as a defense tactic. Prior to rape shield laws, victims could be victimized a
second time on the stand by calling their sexual history into question before the court. Rape shield laws exist
to prevent this type of continued harassment in court.
Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act
The Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act of 2016 also protects survivors of sexual assault by ensuring the
preservation of the rape kit and medical evidence throughout the case’s statute of limitations. This helps
maintain critical evidence needed for an assault conviction until the time the victim is ready to go to court.
SASPA
The Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act, or SASPA, was passed into law in 2015 and makes it possible
for survivors of sexual assault to file for a restraining order without first having reported the incident to law
enforcement.
Hopefully, the future can help bring about more federal laws to protect survivors and allow more to safely and respectfully come out to share their stories.
