MickeyTalk | Joe Biden: Op-Ed: Biden/Lugar bipartisan legislation S.2279, International Violence Against Women's Act of 2007

How do we get the International Violence Against Women's Act of 2007 (S.2279) passed? How do we get the other 78 or so senators to cosponsor? 

The United States should do what it can to end the violence against women and girls.  We need to encourage our senators and representatives to consponsor the International Violence Against Women's Act of 2007, Senate 2279 and House 5927, respectively.

My organization, Congo Helping Hands, is an Indiana-based humanitarian non-profit organization working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to improve the quality of life.  Support for Congolese women and girls is needed.

MickeyTalk | Joe Biden: Op-Ed: Biden/Lugar bipartisan legislation S.2279, International Violence Against Women's Act of 2007.

One in three women worldwide will experience gender-based violence in her lifetime. In some countries, that’s true for 70 percent of women. No country is immune. From the trafficking of women in Eastern Europe, to “honor” killings in the Middle East, to the use of rape as a weapon of war in Darfur and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, violence against women and girls crosses all borders and affects women in all social groups, religions and socio-economic classes.

Violence against women and girls violates their basic human rights. It prevents girls from going to school, stops women from holding jobs, and limits access to critical healthcare for women and their children.

For humanitarian reasons alone, the United States should do what it can to end this scourge. But equally important, it has a profound impact on the health and development of countries worldwide. Stopping gender-based violence isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s also smart diplomacy. Violence contributes to the poverty, inequality and instability that threaten our security and our broad national interests.

The good news is that local organizations are working in communities around the world with courage and sensitivity to help women overcome violence at home, in school and at work. Governments are bringing together all sectors of their countries to try to prevent and end abuse. But they need our help.