Women Thrive commends subcommittee hearing on crisis of violence against women

DC-based Women Thrive hails the upcoming subcommittee hearing at the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the crisis of violence against women and girls globally.

"Violence against women is an egregious human rights violation affecting all aspects of women's lives, from their personal health and safety to their ability to earn a living and care for their families," says Ritu Sharma, co-founder and president of Women Thrive (www.womenthrive.org). "Wednesday's hearing and the pending International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) underscore that this is now being recognized."

Immediately following the hearing, Sharma will share the stage with Subcommittee Chair Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Nicole Kidman and NGO leaders who have been working on the issue at a press conference in Room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Women Thrive is a co-chair of a coalition of more than 100 groups, including domestic and international women's NGOs and U.N. agencies that have been advocating on the issue and have helped research and develop this innovative legislation. The hearing, scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 2 pm (Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building), is being held by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. Those testifying include actress Nicole Kidman, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Goodwill Ambassador, Mallika Dutt, founder and executive director of Breakthrough, an anti-violence organization based in India, Melanne Verveer, U.S. State Department Ambassador-at-large for Global Women's Issues, and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Co-chair of the Women's Caucus.

Sharma adds, "Every year, violence in the home and community devastates the lives of at least one in three women globally. Coming on the heels of Secretary Clinton's focus on rape in the conflict in Congo, we hope this hearing is one more step forward in the passing of IVAWA. It's time to end the violence."

Also, according to a 2009 survey conducted by Women Thrive and the Family Violence Prevention Fund on violence against women globally, public support for IVAWA is strong. "The majority of respondents surveyed (61 percent) felt that addressing global violence should be one of the top priorities for the U.S. government," says Sharma. "One in four said that it should be THE top priority."