I-VAWA authorizes more than $200 million annually in foreign assistance for international programs that prevent violence, support health programs and survivor services, encourage legal accountability and change public attitudes, promote access to economic opportunity and education, and better address violence against women in humanitarian situations. It would deal with preventing violence in all of its forms, including honor killings, bride burnings, acid burnings, dowry deaths, genital mutilation, mass rapes in war, or domestic violence. I-VAWA (S. 2279) was introduced in the Senate last October by the bipartisan leadership team of Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN).

“Violence against women is an egregious human rights violation which affects all aspects of women’s lives, from their personal health and safety to their ability to earn a living and care for their families,” said Ritu Sharma Fox, co-founder and president of Women Thrive Worldwide, formerly the Women's Edge Coalition. “This historic bill will enable our country to help lift one of the major barriers to women’s empowerment worldwide.”

“Now that the International Violence Against Women Act has been introduced in both chambers, we will make its enactment a major priority,” said Esta Soler, president of the Family Violence Prevention Fund. “Day after day, we are horrified by reports of brutal violence being committed against women and children worldwide. This legislation can help our country make a difference and take a stronger stand. We won’t rest until it becomes law.”

The legislation was introduced in the House the day after Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) brought more than 200 activists to Capitol Hill to talk to lawmakers about violence against women. “The International Violence Against Women Act takes a coordinated, comprehensive approach to preventing human rights violations against women worldwide," said Larry Cox, executive director of AIUSA. “Yesterday, Amnesty International activists from Florida to Oregon met with more than 100 congressional offices to ask for support for the International Violence Against Women Act. We will work vigorously to see this historic bill become U.S. law. We are grateful to Congressmen Berman for his leadership to stop the escalating violence against women and girls worldwide.”

In 2005, Amnesty International USA, the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Women Thrive Worldwide convened meetings to develop the legislation, recognizing that violence is a worldwide problem that needs to be addressed in a comprehensive way, and that stand-alone programs are not enough. More than 150 U.S.-based experts including 40 women’s groups overseas gave advice on the bill. More than 60 human rights, women’s, humanitarian, development and faith-based organizations support it.

The new legislation would develop strategies in countries around the world for U.S. programs to address violence against women and girls. It creates the first high level U.S. State Department office working explicitly on violence against women, increasing diplomatic attention to violence against women and girls. The coordinator would seek to integrate best practices in violence prevention across the government's diplomatic and foreign assistance work, while adding financial support for local health programs and reform efforts.

For example, the legislation calls for funding to support locally led efforts to reform practices and change social attitudes that condone violence against women and girls, better address this violence in humanitarian assistance programs, and train lawyers and police on how to better deal with domestic violence cases. It also supports local efforts by bolstering the work of women's organizations overseas that are already working to end violence against women in their countries.

I-VAWA would also decrease potential sexual exploitation and abuse by U.S. humanitarian workers, military personnel, military contractors and police involved in peacekeeping operations by creating training programs to prevent such abuse and a complaints mechanism for reporting problems.

The United Nations Development Fund for Women estimates that at least one of every three women globally will be beaten, raped, or otherwise abused during her lifetime.

For more information on the International Violence Against Women Act, please visit www.amnestyusa.org, www.endabuse.org or www.womenthriveworldwide.org.

Published in: "Legislation to Address Violence Against Women & Girls Worldwide Introduced in House of Representatives," Press Release, Family Violence Prevention Fund, 1 May 2008.