The House of Representatives has re-introduced the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), H.R. 5905. I-VAWA calls for a comprehensive plan to prevent and respond to gender-based violence globally. First championed in 2007 by then-Senator Joe Biden, I-VAWA has not had an easy road in Congress.

This landmark legislation would hold perpetrators accountable, prevent, and respond to gender-based violence. When one out of three women worldwide will be physically, sexually or otherwise abused in her lifetime (with rates as high as 70 percent in some countries),I-VAWA addresses these alarming statistics by providing preventative and response measures such as: education and economic opportunities, social norm change campaigns, health and support services for survivors, and legal and judicial training programs that seek accountability.

Please join me in encouraging Congress to pass the International Violence against Women Act (I-VAWA), H.R. 5905. Source(s): Futures Without Violence. congress.org. govtrack.us.

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