4 Reasons to Demand Action on Women's Rights

"Yes" to IVAWA The International Violence Against Women Act helps put the brakes on gender-based violence. Urge your Members of Congress to get on it. Dear Tracy, Tomorrow, the US Senate is going to be talking about the most important piece of legislation in Congress supporting women and girls around the world - the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). We need every lawmaker on board. Tell your Members of Congress to commit to ending violence against women and girls by co-sponsoring IVAWA. What can one bill do? Quite a lot, actually. Here are 4 Reasons to Stand Up for Women & Girls Right Now. REASON 1) No girl should be denied the right to education. SIA KAMBOU/AFP/Getty Images In mid-April, 276 schoolgirls in Nigeria were abducted by an armed group that opposes any form of Western education. The Nigerian government failed to act for weeks. The girls are still missing. IVAWA would promote community efforts to support girls' education in Nigeria and train local law enforcement to respond quickly and thoroughly when women are targeted for violence. REASON 2) No woman should fear rape or other violence every time she steps outside her door. The grandmother of two young gang-rape victims (Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) . In India, two girls - age 14 and 16 - went into a field at night to relieve themselves because they did not have access to a toilet at home. The next morning, the bodies of the girls were found hanging from a tree. They had been gang-raped. When the father of one of the girls sought the help of local police to find them, a policeman slapped him and refused to investigate. IVAWA would help train police in preventing and responding to gender-based violence anywhere the US provides foreign aid. REASON 3) No woman should be raped by law enforcement or denied justice for sexual violence. Miriam Isaura Lopez Vargas was abducted by Mexican soldiers, taken to a military barracks and held illegally for a week. Soldiers raped and tortured her there. Though she has identified her assailants, no charges have been filed. She lives in constant fear of abduction. IVAWA would help train courts on prosecuting cases of gender-based violence and empower local women's organizations to advocate for survivor's rights. REASON 4) Your action can make a difference. 04-25-11 © mehmettorlak Put the brakes on the epidemic of violence against women and girls globally. Urge your Members of Congress to cosponsor the International Violence Against Women Act today. In solidarity, Cristina M. Finch Managing Director, Identity and Discrimination Unit Amnesty International USA