VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS COMMON

Throughout the world, one out of every three women is physically or sexually abused at one time or another in her life. Rates of violence against women have reached 70 percent in some countries. Violence against women includes:

• Being beaten regularly
• Being raped by husband, or other family member
• Being raped by military person or stranger
• Being imprisoned and even put to death for being raped
• Sold into sexual slavery
• Having acid thrown in her face
• Being forced to incinerate herself on her husband’s funeral pyre
• Being forced to kill herself
• Being forced into marriage (even if she is a child)
• Being killed (“honor killings”)

The International Violence Against Women Act of 2008 was introduced in the 110th Congress, but never came to a vote before Congress adjourned. Amnesty International is continuing to work on advancing the I-VAWA in the 111th Congress. This Act would (mindbogglingly) amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. I suppose it’s better late than never.

You can read more about this Act on Amnesty International’s website.  And read what you can do to help stop the violence.

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