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Tell Congress to End Violence Against Women

Please Help Pass the International Violence Against Women Act

A bill is currently pending in the U.S. Congress that could help millions of women in developing countries escape violence and poverty. The International Violence Against Women Act (H.R. 4594, S. 2982) would make ending violence against women a diplomatic priority for the first time in U.S. history.

Please Tell Your Legislators to Support This Legislation

The International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) would require all U.S. foreign assistance programs to take steps to reduce violence against women and girls. These steps could include promoting women’s economic opportunity, addressing violence against girls in school, and working to change public attitudes. It would require the U.S. government to respond in a timely manner to critical outbreaks of gender-based violence in armed conflict - such as the mass rapes now occuring in the Democratic Republic of Congo. And by investing in local women’s organizations overseas that are succesfully working to reduce violence in their communities, the International Violence Against Women Act would have a huge impact on reducing poverty - empowering millions of women in poor countries to lift themselves, their families, and their communities out of poverty.

Take Action! Send a message to Congress!

Since Congress is racing to finish its session in early October, it is important to get this legislation passed soon. If the bill does not pass this year, it will have to be re-introduced in the new Congress with a new set of legislators. Our friends at Women Thrive have set up a web page to make it easy to write to your legislators.

Please Send Your Message Here

Since the International Violence Against Women Act is currently before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, it is especially important to contact the leaders of that committee, John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN).

We need Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to schedule a “mark-up” of the legislation. Mark-up is when the members of the committee come together and debate any changes to the bill and then vote on whether to pass it out of committee and send it to the entire U.S. Senate for a final vote. The bill can’t advance any further in the Senate until Senator Kerry and the committee mark it up. If you know Senator Kerry or live in his district, please call him this week. The number in Washington, D.C. is 202-224-2742. Please just let him know how important this issue is to you and how critical his leadership is in getting the bill marked-up and passed THIS MONTH.

Senator Richard Lugar from Indiana is the Ranking Republican on the committee so his support for a mark-up is also very important. His phone number in Washington, D.C. is 202-224-4814. If you know Senator Lugar or live in his district, please give him a call and offer the same message: This issue is important to me, the International Violence Against Women Act would help bring an end to the beatings and sexual assaults experienced by girls and women around the world; and we need it marked-up immediately.

There is more information about this issue and legislation on the Women Thrive website

Please Send Your Message Here