Passing the International Violence Against Women Act

Having published two blog posts today about MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” including a whole lot of thoughts on the treatment of women, it seems important to draw attention to Amnesty International’s campaign to urge passage of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA).

From the Amnesty International USA blog:

Congress is now considering IVAWA (H.R. 4594/S.2982), which will help in the global fight for a world free of violence against girls and women. IVAWA is a comprehensive and coordinated response to violence against women. Investing in women and girls and ending violence generates returns for families and communities, nationally and internationally. Contact your member of Congress today to urge their support for this bill that will change the lives of women around the world.

If you click the link in the quoted text just above, you can instantly send an email to your elected officials in the House and Senate to encourage them to support the IVAWA.

The human rights researchers and activists at Amnesty argue that the IVAWA would:

improve our government’s response when women are victims of sex trafficking and rape during war and would provide aid to women’s groups on the ground working to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence. It would focus resources on prevention and ensure that dollars are used in the most effective ways possible. In some countries, it truly could mean the difference between life and death for a woman or girl.

Read more here. Take action here.