Women's Groups Urge Passage Of International Violence Against Women Act

As Congress prepares to vote on the International Violence Against Women Act (HR 4594), women's rights groups are stepping up lobbying efforts and targeting the votes of certain senators, The Hill reports.

The measure -- an international version of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act -- aims to combat violence against women and girls through U.S. foreign policy efforts, such as international aid programs. Under the bill, the administration would be required to produce a strategy designed to "measurably reduce violence against women." The legislation would make violence against women a diplomatic priority, meaning that the U.S. would be required to respond within 90 days to outbreaks of sexual violence during wars and conflict.

The bill is sponsored by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and Reps. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.), Ted Poe (R-Texas), and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). The measure has 112 co-sponsors in the House and 28 in the Senate.

Advocates for I-VAWA say public support for the measure is strong, with a 2009 poll finding that 82% of voters across political and demographic lines support the bill. However, concerns about cost have led some senators -- including Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), an original co-sponsor of a similar bill -- to withdraw support.

In response to the financial concerns, advocates are focusing their lobbying efforts on Senate Appropriations Committee member George Voinovich (R-Ohio), a "debt hawk" who is retiring this year. Advocates say Voinovich's support is essential to procuring the $1.3 billion over five years that the bill requests, The Hill reports. Eighteen Ohio-based groups recently signed a letter to Voinovich urging him to support the bill.

Ritu Sharma, president and co-founder of Women Thrive Worldwide, is working with Lugar's office to address his budgetary concerns. "We know we have the votes in committee, and we know we have the votes on the floor," Sharma said, adding that she is hoping for a vote by September (Stiles, The Hill, 7/11).


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