The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) is the first comprehensive piece of legislation in the United States aimed at ending violence against women and girls around the world. It would improve our government’s response when women are victims of sex trafficking and rape during war and would provide aid to women’s groups on the ground working to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence. It would focus resources on prevention and ensure that dollars are used in the most effective ways possible. In some countries, it truly could mean the difference between life and death for a woman or girl. We are asking that Members of Congress cosponsor this important piece of legislation. - Amnesty International
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Tell Congress 'Pass IVAWA'
Violence against women targets is a worldwide human rights scandal that the U.S. has not taken simple steps to combat. Congress needs to hear voices of all women telling it to pass the International Violence Against Women Act – and to stop stalling.
Approximately one out of every three women globally will be beaten, raped, or otherwise abused in her lifetime according to Amnesty International.
Targeted Individuals have called on Amnesty International to help them. Now, Amnesty International is calling on women globally to help it pressure the U.S. Congress to pass the International Violence Against Women Act .
In Guatemala, Norma Cruz works tirelessly documenting and securing justice for violence against women and girls cases.
In May 2009, however, Cruz became a Targeted Individual. Like other TIs, Cruz began receiving death threats. Now, she has had dozens of death threats due to her organization's legal assistance for a raped girl. Extremist stalkers typically leave many such threats, in various forms, for their target before physical injury or a final blow. It is a dangerous myth that threats will not be acted upon.
American woman, Ms. Miles experiences targeting that mobbed her out of her hand some position at work. Her shattered front door with a bullet pictured below was either attempted murder or a death threat. (See: Shattered glass and dreams: Shot at targeted woman wants Quaids heard. Dupré, Examiner, November 5, 2010) Miles, like other women targets globally, has no legal protection.
Wilma Subra, grandmother and noted Gulf environmental scientist collecting data to advocate for over 600 injured resident cases and against the petrochemical-military-industrial-complex had a bullet come through her front door in recent months. Advice given to Subra? Move your home office to the back of your house. (See: Too sick and scared of Obama's thugs: Australian SBS reports Gulf truth (video), Dupré, D., Examiner, September 15, 2010)
These above mentioned targeting experiences and similar threats and injuries are shared by countless American human rights defenders and other innocent female targets worldwide. They are shared by many women who are not "activists," but women just living "ordinary" lives – none presently protected by law. Many women have reported that they noticed being targeted after severing ties in an unhealthy relationship.
All of these women globally could be legally protected by the IVAWA - if the U.S. Congress will pass it.
The critical women's rights legislation that could help combat dangerous community and home environments in which targeted women suffer, has been put on hold.
Two months ago, Congress could have moved forward with the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) (H.R. 4594/S. 2982). Instead, it stalled.
In the meantime, countless women are struggling to survive abusive situations in the U.S., in Guatemala, in the UK, in Denmark, Australia and countries all over the world according to emails Dupré receives daily, all asking for means of protection.
Perpetrators of violence against these women roam free with immunity and impunity, many profiting from their criminal acts.
Advocacy Director of Women's Human Rights for Amnesty International USA, Daphne Jayasinghe urged Saturday, “Tell your member of Congress to stop the delay – pass IVAWA now!”
Amnesty International advises that the IVAWA “represents the closest opportunity the U.S. has ever come to combating violence against women and girls on a global level.”
Congress will not prioritize IVAWA unless they hear from the public “in a big way,” says Jayasinghe.
“And, with only a few weeks of 2010 remaining, time to pass IVAWA is running out.”
Jayasinghe is asking everyone: Please send an urgent message to your elected officials asking them to pass IVAWA now.
"When implemented, this important piece of legislation will help put an end to the fear, pain and suffering experienced by hundreds of millions of women and girls all around the world."
Write for Norma to stop the death threats
“And there's one more important action I'd like to ask you to take to specifically help Norma Cruz in Guatemala,” states Jayasinghe.
Norma is one of Amnesty International’s featured cases in the 2010 Write for Rights campaign.
“If haven't done so yet, please pledge to Write for Rights – write a letter on behalf of Norma Cruz.”
Do campaigns such as this make a difference?
In 2009, Amnesty International featured the case of another women's rights worker receiving death threats, Rita Mahato, in Nepal.
Letters had a tremendous effect on the outcome – her safety has been drastically improved according to Jayasinghe.
AI is committed to eliminating violence against women worldwide.
“With your help, we'll continue fighting this injustice, both case-by-case and by working to pass legislation that supports long-term solutions.”
Copyright Deborah Dupré Examiner 2010. All rights reserved.
Author grants permission to copy title and first 2 paragraphs only for email or repost - linked to original.
Deborah Dupré, B.Sci, MA. Sci, DipContEd, QMHP from U.S. and Australian universities, human and environmental rights advocate for over 25 years in the U.S., Vanuatu and Australia. Support her work by subscribing to her articles and forwarding the link of this article to friends and colleagues or reposting only title and first paragraph linked to this Examiner page. Emails info@DeborahDupre.com. Send targeting and Gulf illness news tips to her with your name or anonymously. See her Vaccine Liberty or Death book plus Compassion Film Project DVDs.
Obtain a Toxic Survival Kit or have one delivered to a Gulf Coast resident in need: See Gulf Coast Barefoot Doctors online or email info@gcbarefootdocs.org. Learn to become a Gulf Coast Barefoot Doctor here. Supplies are not meeting demand. Please help.
Send aid to Gulf victims by visiting Coastal Heritage Society of Louisiana, spearheaded by humanitarians Joannie Hughes and Kindra Arnesen. (See: chsl.webs.com/)
Sign Louisiana's Petition to stop BP/NOAA PR campaign in Louisiana Schools teaching that oil and Corexit are safe.
Make Gulf incident reports and view the ongoing, rapidly increasing incidents at oilspill.labucketbrigade.org. Text or call in reports to (504) 27 27 OIL. Send reports to bpspillmap@gmail.com and Twitter with the hashtag #BPspillmap. If in danger or witness an emergency, contact your local emergency response agency immediately.
Comments
Dear God, dear angels, dear collective thought soul of precious humanity please surround this woman of truth, Wilma Subra with your protective love and light. In the Almighty's name I pray...Gabriel
No, I think we need legislation for violence and emotional abuse committed towards men by women. Every year, millions of men suffer abuse from women. We need money and aid to help support men in their times of trouble by the hands of abusive females. Women file for 80% of divorces in this country, so men need aid to help them get back on their feet after suffering such emotional abuse from women. This also emotionally abuses the children of families whose mothers filed for no fault divorce splitting the family up. Women cause much harm in today's society and we need legislation that will give financial aid to men and men's groups to help men re-unite and make tomorrow's world a better place. Men are victims of emotional and financial abuse and also have had their civil rights taken away from them by abusive women.
In order for abuse to occur, there need be both abuser and victim. Otherwise, the game can't be played. When people stop participating in victim consciousness, they suddenly find themselves not being abused by either their own mind's concoctions or anyone else's. Victim consciousness is a chosen but often habitually unconscious choice to think a certain way. Hence the expression: victim mentality creates victim reality.
No, I think we need legislation for violence and emotional abuse committed towards men by women. Every year, millions of men suffer abuse from women. We need money and aid to help support men in their times of trouble by the hands of abusive females. Women file for 80% of divorces in this country, so men need aid to help them get back on their feet after suffering such emotional abuse from women. This also emotionally abuses the children of families whose mothers filed for no fault divorce splitting the family up. Women cause much harm in today's society and we need legislation that will give financial aid to men and men's groups to help men re-unite and make tomorrow's world a better place. Men are victims of emotional and financial abuse and also have had their civil rights taken away from them by abusive women.
From a Muslim woman, read completely
This is scary...
This was written by a woman born in Egypt as a Muslim.
This is not hearsay, and it will scare the life out of you.
Make sure you read the paragraph (in red) towards the end.
Joys of Muslim Women
by Nonie Darwish
In the Muslim faith a Muslim man can marry a child as young as 1 year old and have sexual intimacy with this child. Consummating the marriage by 9.
The dowry is given to the family in exchange for the woman (who becomes his slave) and for the purchase of the private parts of the woman, to use her as a toy.
Even though a woman is abused she can not obtain a divorce.
To prove rape, the woman must have (4) male witnesses.
Often after a woman has been raped, she is returned to her family and the family must return the dowry. The family has the right to execute her (an honor killing) to restore the honor of the family. Husbands can beat their wives 'at will' and he does not have to say why he has beaten her.
The husband is permitted to have (4 wives) and a temporary wife for an hour (prostitute) at his discretion.
The Shariah Muslim law controls the private as well as the public life of the woman.
In the West World ( America ) Muslim men are starting to demand Shariah Law so the wife can not obtain a divorce and he can have full and complete control of her. It is amazing and alarming how many of our sisters and daughters attending American Universities are now marrying Muslim men and submitting themselves and their children unsuspectingly to the Shariah law.
By passing this on, enlightened American women may avoid becoming a slave under Shariah Law.
Ripping the West in Two.
Author and lecturer Nonie Darwish says the goal of radical Islamists is to impose Shariah law on the world, ripping Western law and liberty in two.
She recently authored the book, Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law.
Darwish was born in Cairo and spent her childhood in Egypt and Gaza before immigrating to America in 1978, when she was eight years old. Her father died while leading covert attacks on Israel . He was a high-ranking Egyptian military officer stationed with his family in Gaza .
When he died, he was considered a "shahid," a martyr for jihad. His posthumous status earned Nonie and her family an elevated position in Muslim society.
But Darwish developed a skeptical eye at an early age. She questioned her own Muslim culture and upbringing.. She converted to Christianity after hearing a Christian preacher on television.
In her latest book, Darwish warns about creeping sharia law - what it is, what it means, and how it is manifested in Islamic countries.
For the West, she says radical Islamists are working to impose sharia on the world. If that happens, Western civilization will be destroyed. Westerners generally assume all religions encourage a respect for the dignity of each individual. Islamic law (Sharia) teaches that non-Muslims should be subjugated or killed in this world.
Peace and prosperity for one's children is not as important as assuring that Islamic law rules everywhere in the Middle East and eventually in the world.
While Westerners tend to think that all religions encourage some form of the golden rule, Sharia teaches two systems of ethics - one for Muslims and another for non-Muslims. Building on tribal practices of the seventh century, Sharia encourages the side of humanity that wants to take from and subjugate others.
While Westerners tend to think in terms of religious people developing a personal understanding of and relationship with God, Sharia advocates executing people who ask difficult questions that could be interpreted as criticism.
It's hard to imagine, that in this day and age, Islamic scholars agree that those who criticize Islam or choose to stop being Muslim should be executed. Sadly, while talk of an Islamic reformation is common and even assumed by many in the West, such murmurings in the Middle East are silenced through intimidation.
While Westerners are accustomed to an increase in religious tolerance over time, Darwish explains how petro dollars are being used to grow an extremely intolerant form of political Islam in her native Egypt and elsewhere.
(In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.S. to elect the President by themselves! Rest assured they will do so.... You can look at how they have taken over several towns in the USA .. Dearborn Mich. is one... and there are others...)
It is too bad that so many are disillusioned with life and Christianity to accept Muslims as peaceful.. some may be but they have an army that is willing to shed blood in the name of Islam.. the peaceful support the warriors with their finances and own kind of patriotism to their religion. While America is getting rid of Christianity from all public sites and erasing God from the lives of children the Muslims are planning a great jihad on America ..
It is not the job of the US taxpayer to solve problems in other countries. Anyway this stuff is just cover for destroying the family by removing the male from the home.
Wow your response is the most simple and makes the most sense....as long as they dont bring that to the states, women have enough power already
Im glad people seem to be finally clueing - they are playing the sexes against each other, keep the gender war heated through reverse sexist feminism legislation and everyone will be too busy to lay the blame where its deserved- the ruling elites.
Feminism is marxism applied to gender. Half the planet cannot be a minority group
The US has not got a mandate to create laws in any other country.
Espesially laws that will enable vicious females with natural hypergamous instinct to remove a loving father from his home with false accusations, like what happens over a million tiomjes a year in the states.
Fat, ugly feminazis! yes, you !!! You will not have any say in my country, where the men are responsible adults and the women are happy, unlike their Ameriskank counterparts .......
More convoluted blather intended to separate men and women even further. Whats your real motive meshugala?
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