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Tell the U.S. Congress to Pass the International Violence Against Women Act!
Join Women Thrive Worldwide to support the International Violence against Women Act (IVAWA). Add your name to this petition. It impacts women and girls worldwide!
Violence against women is a human rights violation and a worldwide pandemic— approximately 1 out of every 3 women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. The good news is that violence against women is preventable and that there are proven solutions that work. The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), which would be introduced in the US Congress on February 4, 2010, if passed, would for the first time comprehensively incorporate these solutions into U.S. foreign assistance programs.
Please help make the IVAWA a reality for the millions of women worldwide. Here’s how you can take action and make a difference today:
- Show your support for the IVAWA – add your name to this petition and we will carry your voices to the members of the US Congress
- Urge your Senator and/or Representative to co-sponsor the IVAWA. Take action at www.WomenThrive.org/ivawa
- Get and share the IVAWA Widget with your blogs, websites and social media networks
What will the passage of I-VAWA mean to women around the world?
- Increased efforts to prevent violence against women during conflict and in humanitarian settings
- Legal reform and commitment to finding perpetrators and bringing them to justice
- Strengthened capacity of women's organizations to help survivors
- Increased opportunities for women, free from violence, to seek testing or treatment for HIV/AIDS
- Expanded economic and educational opportunities that would help women who are abused flee their abuser or reduce their risk for sexual exploitation by giving them economic options.
The IVAWA was developed by Women Thrive Worldwide, Amnesty International USA, the Family Violence Prevention Fund, and members of Congress with the help of organizational partners. It was drafted in consultation with more than 150 groups including U.S.-based NGOs, U.N. agencies and 40 women's groups across the globe.The bill is being reintroduced by Congressman Delahunt (D-MA), Congressman Poe (R-TX), Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) with other members and Senator Kerry (D-MA), Senator Snowe (R-ME), Senator Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Collins (R-ME) with other Senators.
| Date: | 4 February 2010 |
| Location: |
LocationUnited States
|
| Action Type: | Petitions |
| Sponsored By: | Women Thrive Worldwide |
Thu, 2010-02-25 10:05 | | Posted by Women Thrive Wo...
On March 4, 2010, "Half the Sky Live" will be shown in 450 theaters in the US and Canada.
The event will feature a short about the story of Woineshet, an Ethiopian girl who experienced violence and fought back. Woineshet's story is Chapter Four of Nick Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn's book of the same title, Half the Sky. As you may have read, that chapter includes a significant mention of the International Violence Against Women Act.
In addition to the film portraying Woineshet's story, there will also be conversation among the film participants - Nick Kristof, Sarah Duchess of York, Maria Bello, Rachel Mayanja and Care's CEO, Helene Gayle - on women's empowerment, including violence prevention.
Video about Half the Sky event
Theater listings, ticket purchase and the trailer
Banner ads, fliers and other promotional materials
Fri, 2010-02-19 15:29 | | Posted by Women Thrive Wo...
On February 19, 2010, The Baltimore Sun published an op-ed by Senator Benjamin Cardin on the International Violence Against Women Act. Writes Senator Cardin:
"Violence against women is a global epidemic, threatening the lives and safety of women and girls around the world. Today, one out of every three women worldwide will be physically or sexually abused during her lifetime, with rates reaching 70 percent in some countries.
These are horrifying statistics. As chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I recently joined efforts to tackle this egregious problem by co-sponsoring the International Violence Against Women Act."
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Women Thrive Worldwide
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mlock@womenthrive.org
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Bel Esprit
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Amnesty International USA 
