Women are raped every day—their bodies become battlegrounds in conflicts around the world. How can you help stop this violence? .
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As many as 50,000 women were raped during the war in Bosnia. During conflicts in West Africa thousands of young girls were kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery and prostitution. Rape is rampant in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where as in so many other places it is again being used as a weapon of war, a tactic used to terrorize, destroy and humiliate communities, its impact devastating. There is a new Congress in Washington.
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It’s time to tell our elected representatives that violence against women and girls must stop now. We need your help. Add your voice and join our fight. Please sign this petition and forward it to your friends, telling Congress to:
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- Fund programs that prevent violence and respond to incidents of rape against women and girls
- Support efforts to help women and girls recover their dignity, health, livelihood, and families
- Include anti-sexual violence initiatives in relevant international assistance programs
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STOP SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
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Dear Congressperson,
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We call on you to make the fight against sexual violence a top priority for U.S. foreign policy and foreign assistance funding.
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During most conflicts around the world, women and girls are targeted for sexual violence. Women and girls who live in conflict-affected regions are especially vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation.
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The U.S. Government must make it a priority to end this brutality. The U.S. can make a real difference in the lives of millions of women and girls around the globe.
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The signatories of this petition call on Congress to:
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-- Fund programs that prevent violence, save lives, and respond effectively to the needs of women and girls who have faced violence
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-- Support initiatives that allow survivors of sexual violence to recover their dignity, health, livelihood, and families
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-- Promote greater access for women and girls to education and training so they can support themselves, sustain a livelihood, and contribute to their communities
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-- Support community awareness and education programs that also target men and boys so that they can begin to break the cycle of sexual violence
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-- Provide technical assistance to countries in developing political, legal, and institutional structures required to address violence against women and girls
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-- Support international health programs and justice initiatives that are respectful and responsive to the needs of victims of sexual violence
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Women and girls must be able to fulfill their potential and be free from the scourge of sexual violence and exploitation. We believe the U.S. Government should lead the way through generous foreign assistance programs and assertive diplomatic initiatives.
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H.R.I.H. Prince José Manuel Mosquera y
Castelo de Septimio-Bahtzabbay el Tadmur
