This book addresses the causes, prevalence, and consequences of violence against women (VAW) nationally and internationally. It provides examples of completed and ongoing U.S. activities that address violence against women (VAW) directly or include anti-VAW components. In recent years, the international community has increasingly recognized international violence against women as a significant human rights and global health issue. VAW, which can include both random acts of violence as well as sustained abuse over time, can be physical, psychological, or sexual in nature.