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UNFORTUNATELY the Clock Runs out on IVAWA
Good news is that there was strong bi-partisan support for IVAWA on Capitol Hill. One-third of the House and the Senate co-sponsored the legislation and in the last weeks of Congress’s lame duck session the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to pass the bill.   Unfortunately, just as the momentum was heating up, the clock ran out on the 111th Congress. For more about the progress of IVAWA and organizing new strategies, see www.womenthrive.org. Women thrive is to be commended for their efforts in building a network of support for IVAWA.

VICTORY: International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) is Reality at the Committee Level! 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2010

CONTACT: SFRC Press Office, 202-224-3468

Washington, D.C. –The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today passed bipartisan legislation written by Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) that will establish a comprehensive, five-year strategy to reduce the levels of violence against women and girls globally.  The landmark International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) identifies ways to tackle the global epidemic in order to achieve real progress improving the lives of women and girls worldwide. The Committee passed the legislation by a vote of 11 to 8.  

“Today, in passing the International Violence Against Women Act, the Committee spoke with a strong and decisive voice.  This historic vote sends a powerful message to the world that the United States stands against violence against women and girls, anywhere and everywhere it occurs. This bill tells women and girls that that they are valued, respected members of society who do not have to suffer in silence.  IVAWA will use U.S. assistance wisely, bring greater transparency, and improve coordination inside the government and with key stakeholders in civil society. But more importantly, we are saying that now is the time for us to gather the resources and political will to turn IVAWA’s promise into a reality for the millions of women and girls whose lives will be improved as a result of this critical legislation,” said Chairman Kerry, who introduced the bill in February 2010.    

During today’s business meeting, Chairman Kerry offered an amendment in response to concerns raised by Republicans and some faith-based groups.  Among other things, the amendment reduces authorization levels to “such sums” in order to focus on existing resources. While the use of new funds is possible, the focus is on transparency, accountability, inclusion, and longevity.

The International Violence Against Women Act, S.2982 will:  

• mandate the appointment of high level individuals in both the State Department and USAID to be responsible for the issue;
• require interagency coordination, monitoring and evaluation of programs and regular briefings to Congress;
• provide comprehensive, five-year individual country plans for 5-20 countries with high levels of violence against women and girls;
• offer instruction on preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in Department of Defense (DoD) trainings for foreign military, police, and judicial officials;
• provide a strong programmatic component to respond to violence against women in humanitarian relief,  peacekeeping, conflict, and post-conflict settings; and
• spotlight widespread violence against women and girls in real time – such as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – by requiring the Secretary of State to develop emergency response plans.

Over 200 humanitarian, faith-based, human rights, refugee and women’s organizations have voiced their support for the International Violence Against Women Act, including:

Amnesty International USA, CARE, Family Violence Prevention Fund, Global AIDS Alliance, Jewish Women International, International Center for Research on Women, International Rescue Committee, Lutheran World Relief, Refugees International, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vital Voices Global Partnership, Women's Refugee Commission, Women Thrive Worldwide, and World Vision.

Spring 2010: 

IVAWA  Reintroduced by Senators Boxer and Kerry

Photo by Alexandra Robinson (c)

At a Feb, 2010 press event on Capitol Hill, Senators Boxer and Kerry re-introduced the International Violence Against Women Act. For more about this important step, go to www.WomenThrive.org to learn about coalition built for the advocacy work related to I-VAWA. 

Photo: Photo by Alexandra Robinson (c)

At this important event, a number of women from different countries spoke of their own perspectives and experiences related to violence against women, note the photograph of the indigenous woman in the background of the above photo. This image captures the global complexities and the universal experience of violence against women. It touches us all, reaching from the Middle East to Central America and beyond! 

A visit to Washington, DC focusing on the White House and Capitol Hill

CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION:

 A resolution expressing the sympathy of the Senate to the families of women and girls murdered in Guatemala, and encouraging the United States to work with Guatemala to bring an end to these crimes. S. Res. 178, 110^th Cong., 2^nd Sess. (2007).

A critical action step is policy advocacy.

Our focal point, at this time, is the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) which, if passed, may be one way in which to fund Guatemala as a priority nation for programming aimed at responding to violence against women.

Amanda Martin is the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission (GHRC) and Kelsey Alford-Jones is Program Associate with GHRC. Our teamwork as advocates, many of us coming from the academic community, would be impossible without their persistent planning, guidance, and thoughtful feedback about delegate after-actions.

< Photographed left are:

Janett Forte, Debbie Haynes, Carmen Williams, Amanda Martin, Karen Smith Rotabi, Abby Dini, Kelsey Alford-Jones, Ruth Micklen, Christine Morin, Mildred Ann Crittenden, Debra Rodman, Roselyn Costantino, Beth Leftwich, and Emily Willard