Violence Against Women Act Has Public Support

WASHINGTON - “Every day, in every corner of the world, women are beaten, assaulted and raped, and girls are trafficked, forced into prostitution or burned with acid for going to school. It’s an appalling violation of human rights, and the U.S. should be doing more to stop it. With Congress returning to Washington this week, the time to act and make real change is now. 

The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA, HR 4594/S 2982) can make a tremendous difference. This groundbreaking bill would apply the force of U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance toward preventing gender-based violence. 

A bi-partisan group of senators and representatives are championing the International Violence Against Women Act, including Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), as well as Representatives Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Ted Poe (R-TX) and Janice Schakowsky (D-IL). 

There is a broad, deep public support for this legislation. Public opinion research conducted by Lake Research last year for the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Women Thrive Worldwide found that 61 percent of voters said addressing global violence should be one of our government’s top priorities and eight in ten (82 percent) express support for the bill. Majorities believe working to end violence against women and girls will lead to greater economic and political stability worldwide. Voters want our government to help end violence against women and girls because they see it as an appalling human rights violation, a dangerous public health epidemic, an often-irreversible path to poverty, and a hideous tactic of war. 

Passing the International Violence Against Women Act should be a top priority for Members of Congress this session. Voters and more than 200 domestic and international organizations, humanitarian groups, faith-based and development groups support its passage. 

Right now we have our best opportunity in years to pass the International Violence Against Women Act. There’s a lot at stake, for our country and the world.”

The Family Violence Prevention Fund works to end violence against women and children around the world, because every person has the right to live free of violence.