Support the International Violence Against Women Act

Physical and sexual violence is a tool of war and conflict, an act of dehumanizing oppression, and a public health crisis that impacts more than a third of the world's women and girls. Today, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) responded to this global epidemic by introducing the bipartisan International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA).

IVAWA would codify into law strategies to prevent and respond to gender-based violence globally, while streamlining and improving existing U.S. programs to end violence against women.

The legislation would also permanently authorize the creation of the Office of Global Women’s Issues in the State Department to support health programs and survivor services, encourage legal accountability and a change of public attitudes, promote access to economic opportunity projects and education, and address violence against women and girls in humanitarian situations.

As support grows for this vital bill, please urge your Senators to co-sponsor IVAWA today! 

Use the sample script below to demand that your Senators take a stand against gender-based violence worldwide.

Sample Script:

I’m your constituent from [City, State]. I’m calling to support the bipartisan International Violence Against Women Act that was introduced today.

Living free from violence is a human right, but around the world one in three women experience physical, sexual, or another kind of abuse during their lives.

I urge [Senator] to support the International Violence Against Women Act, that would make ending violence against women and girls a top diplomatic priority of the United States.