Unprecedented action from the US

  • Published on 12/11/2007
  • by: Elena R
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The I-VAW as three main components. The legislation -

  1. Creates one central Office for Womens Global Initiatives to coordinate the US's policies, programs and resources that deal with womens issues. Never before has there been one person who reports directly to the Secretary of State on issues related to gender-based violence.

  2. Mandates a five-year comprehensive strategy to fight violence against women in 10 - 20 selected countries and provides a new, dedicated funding stream of $175 million a year to support programs dealing with violence against women in five areas: the criminal and civil justice system, health care, girls' access to education and school safety, womens' economic empowerment, and public awareness campaigns.

  3. Requires training, reporting mechanisms and a system for dealing with women and girls afflicted by violence during humanitarian, conflict and post-conflict operations. As the recent reports from the Congo make tragically clear, in situations of humanitarian crises, conflict and post-conflict operations, women and girls are particularly vulnerable to violence. Reports of refugee women being raped while collecting firewood, soldiers sexually abusing girls in exchange for token food items, or women subjected to unimaginable brutality and torture as a tactic of war are shocking in number and inhumanity. There is a dire need for increased training and reporting requirements for refugee workers to help crack down on these brutal acts of violence. In addition, the bill crafts a new designation of "critical outbreaks and requires emergency measures when rape is used as a weapon of war or in conflicts where violence against women is sharply escalating with impunity.'

The I-VAWA was drafted with the input and expertise of over 100 non-governmental organisations who work on gender-based violence, human rights, health care, international development and aid. Amnesty International played a vital role, along with CARE, Center for Womens Global Leadership, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Family Violence Prevention Fund, Human Rights Watch, Inter-Agency Gender Working Group (IGWG), International Rescue Committee, Jewish Women International, Legal Momentum, Lutheran World Relief, Women's Edge Coalition, and Vital Voices Global Partnership.

The act is interesting because it makes explicit the connection between violence against women and poverty. It also seems to address sexual and reproductive rights to some extent. One of the proposing Senators, Richard Lugar said, "we cannot expect to reduce poverty and decrease the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS until we have more equitable treatment of women in developing countries. Empowered and educated women are the key to breaking these cycles".

While I think it's commendable that the act also promises $1 billion in over five years in U.S. aid to support international programs that prevent violence, it's also worth noting that this is the same government that reportedly spends twice that amount every week on the Iraq war. Perhaps once we start to resource war and peace equally there might be some real change but still - a step in the right direction!

If you want more info or you want to take action to support the bill you can go to AI USA's website.

This blog entry was created by Elena R and does not necessarily represent the position or opinion of Amnesty International Australia.

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