Tell Congress to Pass the International Violence Against Women Act

by Meredith Slater · 2010-02-24 11:11:00 UTC
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As both CARE's Helen Gayle and I have written here in the past week, solving the world's poverty problem means investing in human capital -- starting with women. And the first step to get us there is backing a comprehensive global effort to end violence against women.

It might not be as obvious as investing in, say, healthcare or education. Still, though, across the world, millions of girls and women's efforts to get ahead are stymied by the violence that they confront every day. Whether through domestic violence, rape or genital mutilation, one in every three women will be abused in her lifetime. In some countries, this figure is as high as 70%.

Despite the daunting nature of these figures, there are concrete ways the global community can make a difference. Here in the U.S., for example, the International Violence Against Women Act -- introduced to both the House and Senate this month -- offers one comprehensive plan to halt violence against women and girls. The bill includes measures for prevention, protection from and prosecution of cases involving violence, and brings together all the necessary players for the initiative: governments, international institutions, the private sector, civil society and individuals.

The bill has bipartisan backing from both chambers in Congress, and also boasts a hefty backing of other supporters who helped serve as architects for the bill, including Amnesty International USA, the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Women Thrive Worldwide.

It also marks a radical new understanding of the issue. Previously, as the Family Violence Prevention Fund's president Esta Soler explains, Congress supported efforts to fight violence against women only as they related to crises like those in Darfur and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But as Soler explains, "Violence against women is an emergency every day. We need a response that is sustained and durable enough to address not only today's emergencies, but those that lie ahead."

As Change.org editor Alex DiBranco wrote on the day the legislation was introduced this year, "Last time around, Congress didn't get around to passing this vital piece of legislation before the end of the session. That can't happen this time."

Your voice can make an impact. Call on Congress now, and tell them to pass the International Violence Against Women Act.

Photo Credit: Meanest Indian

Meredith Slater works as a grant writer for organizations such as Friends of the World Food Program and Henry Street Settlement.
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