Social Action

SOCIAL ACTION

Linda Paulson, Mission Coordinator for Social Action

763-780-8224

paulson1142@msn.com tcumwaction@aol.com

IVAWA and The GROWTH Act
IVAWA ( H.R.4594 : International Violence Against Women Act of 2010 in the House of Representatives and S.2982 : International Violence Against Women Act of 2010 in the Senate) was referred to committee in both houses of Congress on February 4th this year. On June 16th, the Washington Office of Public Policy joined other organizations in sending letters to members of Congress encouraging them to sign on as additional co-sponsors of this important legislation. The advocacy organizations tracking this bill expect that it will come out of committee in the coming months. Dates as early as July were mentioned. The next stage in the bill's progress would be 'mark-up'. We will be tracking IVAWA progress as this unfolds. For more information on the status of IVAWA, please see the following website of our partner organization, Women Thrive Worldwide: www.womenthrive.org/ivawainfo

The GROWTH Act, full title: TheGlobal Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive (GROWTH) Act (H.R. 5191/S.1425) was referred to The House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on April 29th. A coalition of organizations here is currently building co-sponsors for that as well. But there is no word on when (or if) we can expect it to emerge from committee.

You can take action now, to advance Congressional consideration of IVAWA, which may move more quickly than the GROWTH Act.

Background:

The United Nations Development Fund for Women estimates that one of every three women globally will be beaten, raped, or otherwise abused during her lifetime.   A World Health Organization study examining diverse cultural settings in ten countries found that 15 to 71 percent of women reported physical or sexual violence by a husband or partner.

There are many forms of violence against women, including sexual, physical, or emotional abuse by an intimate partner; physical or sexual abuse by family members or others; sexual harassment and abuse by authority figures (such as teachers, police officers or employers); trafficking for forced labour or sex; and practices such as forced or child marriages, dowry-related violence; and "honor" killings, when women are murdered in the name of family "honor." Systematic sexual abuse in conflict situations is another form of violence against women.

Members of Congress including Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Susan Collins (R-ME) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Representatives William Delahunt (D-MA), Ted Poe (R-TX) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the International Violence Against Women Act (H.R. 4594/S. 2982) earlier this year. It is bi-partisan, groundbreaking legislation that would - for the first time - make stopping violence against women and girls a priority in U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid.

Below is a list of four easy things you can do to support the International Violence Against Women Act and help end violence against women and girls:

1. Learn more about how the International Violence Against Women Act can help create a safer world for women and children. Read more about it atwww.womenthrive.org/ivawainfo, http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/international-violence-against-women-act/latest-update-on-i-vawa/page.do?id=1381035, http://www.icrw.org/what-we-do/violence-against-women/international-violence-against-women-act, http://www.endabuse.org/content/features/detail/1451/or www.refugeesinternational.org/ivawa.

2. Spread the word about the International Violence Against Women Act using social media networks. Tweet or post a message on Facebook about the need to support the bill and help end violence against women and girls around the world.

3.  Urge your U.S. Representative and Senators to co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act. Send an email to your members of Congress athttp://capwiz.com/fvpf/issues/alert/?alertid=14591456 or http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=14375. If your Member of Congress is already a co-sponsor of the bill, send a thank you note.

4. This summer, schedule a meeting with your Member of Congress and ask him or her to support the International Violence Against Women Act and consider becoming a co-sponsor of the bill.

If you have any questions, please call my assistant, Anthony Cardone, at 202-488-5660

Be a Superhero in the Minnesota Fight Against Hunger: Your help is needed to make the largest food drive in Minnesota a success. The March Campaign, by Minnesota FoodShare organizes a statewide media campaign to promote food shelf donations, produce and distribute free promotional and educational resources for food drive organizers, and act as a clearinghouse for all cash donations by distributing the funds to participating Minnesota food shelves. Help your congregation, corporation, nonprofit, school, local civic group, etc. sponsor a food drive today. MN FoodShare is a program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches cosponsored by the Minnesota Council of Churches. For ideas on how you can be a superhero visit www.mnfoodshare.gmcc.org/march.php.