Help Us Create a World without Violence

Violence against women and girls is the world’s most common human rights violation, the most pervasive public health epidemic, and the cause of the greatest cumulative loss of human potential in history. Yet, few governments enforce laws against it and international donor agencies fail to invest significant resources to address it. We are trying to change that. With your support, Women Thrive works with the United States government to both recognize gender-based violence as a pressing global concern and allocate resources to fight it.

Earlier this month, the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) was reintroduced in both houses of Congress, led by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky  and with a total of 18 original sponsors -- nine Republicans and nine Democrats. This is the fifth time the bill has been reintroduced in Congress. Why is this piece of legislation so important? The IVAWA will permanently authorize the Office of Global Women’s Issues in the State Department, as well as the position of the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, who is responsible for coordinating activities, policies, programs, and funding relating to gender integration and women’s empowerment internationally.

We currently have this structure in place, however the the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally is set to expire in August. Therefore, efforts to combat gender-based violence are urgently needed, because they will no longer have a set protocol after the expiration. IVAWA would codify an updated strategy, ensuring the United States' continues to commit resources to highly effective programs that focus on ending the cycle of violence.

The World Health Organization reports that one in every three women will experience physical or sexual abuse at some point in her lifetime. That’s one too many. In the International Violence Against Women Act, we have a real opportunity to help take one to none.

With your support, Women Thrive is able to advocate for reintroducing the bill and keep gender-based violence a priority among high-level decision makers. Our advocacy has influenced key leadership and personnel at USAID, the State Department and several Congressional offices. But our work is not done. Please urge your congressional member to support IVAWA by clicking here. Share the link with friends, family, colleagues, etc. We have to let Congress know that Americans want the International Violence Against Women Act passed. 

Thank you for your commitment to women and girls globally. Your support makes a difference.  

Links:

• Ending Violence Against Women Should Be Common Political Ground
• Need for International Violence Against Women Act More Urgent Th