Act Today!

Help End Extreme Violence Against Women and Girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Despite U.S.-led efforts in recent weeks to end the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, systematic and widespread crimes against humanity continue to haunt the region leading to an epidemic of sexual violence against women and girls. We must act now and call on our elected officials to strengthen their commitment and action to end these abhorrent crimes against humanity and protect Congolese women and girls.

The International Violence Against Women Act (S.2279) [1] seeks to combat international violence against women and girls by:

• Directing the President to develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent violence against women and girls;
• Directing the U.S. government to assist programs that prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in all humanitarian relief, conflict, and post-conflict operations;
• Creating a five-year strategy and providing funding to support a rule of law that would prevent and respond to violence against women in 10-20 poor to middle income countries. This would expand the U.S. Government’s ability to address gender-based violence issues with foreign governments as part of its diplomatic relations;
• Establishing the Office of Women's Global Initiatives in the Department of State to coordinate U.S. government efforts respecting international women's issues;
• Authorizing appropriations to support the United Nations Development Fund for Women Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women;
• Ensuring that U.S. training of foreign military and police forces incorporates training on prevention of violence against women and girls.

You can make a difference in bringing peace to eastern Congo by contacting your Senators (1-202-224-3121 9:00am–6:00pm EST, Monday through Friday) and demanding the following:

• Urge them to immediately co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) as a vital step in ending violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo and around the world;
• Provide funds for a full-time diplomatic presence in eastern Congo to coordinate closely with international partners on peace-making and development initiatives;
• Support the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC);
• Provide more funding and technical assistance for security sector reform (SSR) and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of combatants.