International: US lawmakers target global violence against women

US lawmakers introduced landmark legislation Thursday to make combatting violence against women and girls worldwide -- notably in places like Haiti and Afghanistan -- central to US foreign policy.

"Every day, too many women and girls across the globe endure horrific acts of violence. They are disfigured by acid, raped and beaten, or they are denied the opportunity to see a doctor," said Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer, a key backer of the bill.

"The nations with the worst track record in preventing violence against women are also the most unstable and are breeding grounds for terrorism," said Democratic Representative Bill Delahunt, another supporter.

The measure, which enjoys the backing of lawmakers from both major US parties, calls for 175 million dollars over five years to go towards developing programs to combat violence against women in as many as 20 low-income countries where it is a serious problem.

It would also create a specialized office in the US Agency for International Development and provide 40 million dollars to expand and modify emergency and humanitarian relief programs to address violence against women.

And it would require that US training of military and police forces overseas -- an ongoing mission in places like Afghanistan and Iraq -- include instruction on preventing violence against women and girls.
"Societies where women are safe, where women are empowered to realize their aspirations and move their communities forward are healthier and more stable," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman John Kerry, a Democrat.

"Championing these values is also an extremely effective and cost-efficient way to advance America's foreign assistance goals and strengthen our national security," he said.

"This is a crucial year for Afghanistan, and the country's future success will depend, in large part, on its women," said Democratic Representative Jan Schakowsky.

"The women of Afghanistan, like women in all conflict zones, have borne the brunt of years of warfare; they will also form the underpinning of a stable and peaceful Afghanistan," she added.