Schakowsky, Shaheen, Collins Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Worldwide
WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, reintroduced the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), which is bipartisan and bicameral legislation to ensure combating gender-based violence around the world remains a top diplomatic and development priority for the United States.
The bill leverages existing U.S. resources to combat and respond to gender-based violence, a critical step toward promoting the human rights and dignity of all individuals as well as regional and global stability. Congresswoman Schakowsky first introduced this legislation in 2012.
"The United States has a duty to lead in advancing progress toward a future with less gender-based violence and greater equality around the world. The International Violence Against Women Act would guarantee we have a Gender-Based Violence Strategy that puts victims and survivors first," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. "By integrating the work of the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development, this bill would make the eradication of violence against women a central piece of the U.S. foreign policy agenda and ensure that gender-based violence prevention and response are included in all our humanitarian efforts around the globe. Women and girls around the globe need our assistance, and with this legislation, we have the opportunity to deliver."
"Around the globe, in peace and in conflict, women experience horrific gender-based violence. Prioritizing the rights of women and girls is not only a moral imperative; it is an investment in our own national security and in peace and stability throughout the world. I’m proud to lead the International Violence Against Women Act with Senator Collins and Congresswoman Schakowsky to send a unified message from Congress that the United States must make preventing and stopping gender-based violence a top foreign policy issue,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
“Our legislation will ensure that the U.S. continues to take a leadership role in combatting violence against women and girls around the world. In addition to being a pressing human rights issue, such violence contributes to inequality and political instability, making it a security issue as well as a moral issue for us all,” said Senator Susan Collins. “I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues to end violence against women and girls and to provide the assistance and resources necessary to achieve this goal.”
Specifically, the International Violence Against Women Act would:
- Permanently establish the Office of Global Women's Issues in the U.S. Department of State to develop and implement a cohesive, cross-agency effort to advance the status of women and girls globally.
- Codify the Obama administration's Gender-Based Violence Strategy to ensure that victims and survivors of gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices around the world have better access to services, protection, and the justice they deserve.
- Update and enhance emergency response mechanisms for outbreaks of violence against women and girls abroad.
- Ensure that gender-based violence prevention and response are included in all U.S. humanitarian efforts.
- Focus current resources more efficiently and effectively.
Violence against women is a global epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, one in three women around the world has experienced physical and/or sexual violence during her life. There are no social, geographic, economic, religious, or cultural boundaries to violence against women and girls. Addressing violence against women and girls improves not only their health and wellbeing but also social and economic outcomes. Furthermore, the United Nations estimates that 339 million people worldwide are in need of humanitarian assistance. Only a year ago, it was 274 million people. Global conflicts, the climate crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic are leading to growing hardship. Gender-based violence, particularly against women and girls, is greatly exacerbated in humanitarian emergencies.
In the House, IVAWA has 113 original cosponsors. The legislation is also supported by over 50 civil society organizations.
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