Photo: Democratic Republic of Congo, courtesy Kevin Sites
This blog post was written and orignally posted by Elisabeth Roesch, the gender-based violence advocacy officer for our affilitate organization The International Rescue Committee.
The countdown has begun for Congress to act on a bill that would help harness U.S. efforts to confront the biggest moral outrage of our time – violence against women and girls. At a Congressional panel in support of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) last week, the sentiment was clear – now is the time. Women can wait no longer.
The briefing on Thursday morning brought together a star panel of activists and leaders, including the actress Samantha Mathis, an impassioned advocate for women’s rights; Rose Mapendo, a courageous and outspoken refugee activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo; and Ritu Sharma, president and co-founder of Women Thrive Worldwide.
I have been working to advocate for an end to violence against women for many years, but I am still shocked by the multiple and horrific ways that brutality can be inflicted. Fortunately, I am also awestruck each time I hear a unique and inspiring story of violence overcome. While the stories I heard last week were devastating, the message they imparted was one of hope. I think it is impossible to witness such courage and passion and not be infected with a sense that stories are more than words –they are a call to action.
For those who don’t know the statistics, violence against women is not a marginal issue. One of every three women will be abused in her lifetime — and in the United States alone, such violence costs taxpayers nearly $6 billion a year.
Continue reading on The International Rescue Committee's blog. Click here.
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