WORLD BRIDGE BLOG

Over the past year the U.S. has taken a leading role at the United Nations on violence against women. Yet the U.S. has still not adopted the legislation that adopts a comprehensive approach to violence against women  around the world.

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and we are asking you to take action to call for the re-introduction of the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA). This important bill was introduced into the last Congress but was never passed, and it must be re-introduced into this Congress without further delay.

As I started to write this blogpost calling for re-introduction of I-VAWA, I got a terrible sense of déjà-vu. Then I looked back at the post I wrote on this very same subject on November 25 last year and I saw why! A whole year has passed and we are still waiting for the re-introduction of this bill. And it’s not for lack of attention to the issue. Throughout the year, Refugees International has continued its work with a coalition of organizations that has come together with the common aim of pushing for its passage.

Over the past year there have been several Congressional hearings on violence against women in humanitarian crises. Momentum was further built in October with a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing chaired by Senator Kerry on the global costs and consequences of violence against women and a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing chaired by Rep. Delahunt on international violence, stories and solutions. After the hearing in the House, Refugees International co-sponsored a press event and reception in support of I-VAWA together with other members of the I-VAWA coalition.

But we’re still waiting. There has been a lot of rhetoric about taking action against violence against women over the past year, but rhetoric is not enough. The serious commitment of both diplomatic and financial resources is necessary. The U.S. does currently support some work on gender-based violence around the world, but these tend to be one-off programs that are not developed strategically to make the real impact that is needed. The comprehensive approach to violence against women and girls that I-VAWA aims to achieve is essential, and we need a robust version of the bill.

Working to prevent and respond to gender-based violence costs money. I-VAWA would authorize funding for services for survivors of violence – medical, legal, educational, and economic – as well as work to prevent such violence. No serious impact can be made without authorizing funds for these activities.  As always during an economic recession, some politicians are concerned that supporting anything that costs money would be unpopular. Yet surveys have shown that when American people hear about the rapes and assaults that are suffered by women overseas, they want their government to help and they are willing for money to be spent on this. Your representatives need to hear that there is public support for work to address violence against women internationally. Please take action today and ask your representative to support immediate re-introduction of I-VAWA.

TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to re-introduce the International Violence Against Women Act.

For the next few weeks, Refugees International will be posting about the rights of women around the globe as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.