Last week, the bipartisan International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) was introduced into both Houses of Congress. This legislation signals a strong effort to join and take leadership of the international campaign to end violence against women and girls and empower women to protect their rights.

As a humanitarian talking with displaced Iraqis be prepared for a lot of anger.  “You destroyed my country,” said one woman. “Those ruling have no place for us. What will you do?” Millions of people have been displaced inside and outside the country. Small numbers have returned home. For others, insecurity, plus the absence of the rule of law, infrastructure, employment prospects, or basic services like water, sanitation, education or health care prevent them from returning home.

In Bangladesh a Supreme Court decision this May recognized the right to citizenship for a formerly stateless population, the Bihar, an Urdu speaking minority.

Bangladesh is an extremely young country, formed only 37 years ago after a violent conflict to sever its ties with Pakistan, achieved independence and preserve its Bengali culture.

Monasteries in Burma, as in many Buddhist countries, are places where those in need go for help: for religious education, meditation skills, counseling and, increasingly in this underdeveloped country, for food, education, shelter, and health care.

Since December 2006, the government of Thailand has imprisoned 152 Laotian Hmong in a two-room immigration jail near the Laos border. This group of Hmong, many of whom had fought alongside the United States, threatened suicide rather than being forcibly returned to Laos. They feared being handed over to a government that credible reports indicate has detained, tortured, abused and killed Hmong for suspected involvement in an insurgency or for holding anti-government views.