Please Support the I-VAWA Act
In honor of International Women’s Day, and to help fight violence against women and girls around the world, please call today to urge your Senator to co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA).
This bipartisan bill, introduced by the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)), would for the first time make ending global violence against women and girls a clear priority for the United States.
By directing the US government to create a coordinated, comprehensive, and concerted strategy to reduce violence, I-VAWA would have a powerful impact on the suffering of millions of women worldwide who face horrific abuses such as rape, domestic violence, acid burning, dowry deaths, honor killings, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, and other harmful practices.
Two Easy Ways You Can Take Action Today:
- Send an email. Visit Amnesty International USA’s Online Action Center where you will find draft emails already prepared and ready for you to personalize and send with a few simple clicks. You can also click through to find additional information and “talking points” about I-VAWA.
- Make a call. Call the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senator’s office. Tell the staffer with whom you speak that you are calling to urge your Senator to co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), S.2279, introduced by Senators Biden and Lugar.
- Either way, in less than 5 minutes, you can make a real difference! Staffers keep track of constituent viewpoints pro/con legislation, and every additional co-sponsor will help I-VAWA gain the momentum it needs to become law.
Senate Outreach to Prioritize
Advocates in Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming are especially asked to reach out to their Republican Senators. But even if you don’t live in one of the states named above, please email or call your Senators today—outreach to all new potential co-sponsors is helpful.
Also, please thank your Senators even if they are already co-sponsors! Knowing that a bill is a constituent priority can encourage a Senator to step up from co-sponsor to active champion. Visit the Library of Congress’ legislative information system to find an up-to-date list of current co-sponsors.
This week (March 10-14) is “I-VAWA Call-In Week,” but every week until I-VAWA passes is a week your call can make a critical difference in the lives of women and girls around the world!
