[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 519 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 519

  Supporting the ideals and goals of the ``International Day for the 
                Elimination of Violence against Women''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 5, 2015

  Mr. Honda (for himself, Mr. McGovern, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Carson of 
    Indiana, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Lee, Mrs. 
Napolitano, Ms. Speier, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Larsen of Washington, 
  Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Moore, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. 
 Keating, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. McNerney, 
 Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Kildee, Ms. Brownley of California, Ms. McCollum, 
  Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Norton, Mr. 
   Rangel, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Brown of Florida, Ms. Bordallo, Mrs. 
  Bustos, Mr. Peters, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Roybal-
Allard, Ms. Judy Chu of California, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Young 
     of Alaska, and Mr. Scott of Virginia) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 
   in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the ideals and goals of the ``International Day for the 
                Elimination of Violence against Women''.

Whereas November 25, 2015, is recognized as the ``International Day for the 
        Elimination of Violence against Women'';
Whereas violence against women and girls, particularly intimate partner violence 
        and sexual violence, are major public health issues and violations of 
        human rights;
Whereas recent global prevalence figures indicate that 35 percent of women 
        worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-
        partner sexual violence in their lifetime;
Whereas humanitarian response in previous emergencies has shown that gender-
        based violence (GBV), particularly sexual violence, increases in the 
        immediate aftermath of an emergency, in addition to sexual exploitation 
        and abuse, human trafficking, forced prostitution, and forced marriage, 
        and must therefore be prioritized at the onset of the response;
Whereas on average, 1 in 3 women who have been in a relationship report they 
        have experienced some form of physical, sexual, or other form of 
        violence by their intimate partner;
Whereas 120,000,000 girls worldwide have experienced sexual assault at some 
        point in their lives;
Whereas women and girls are disproportionately impacted by natural disasters and 
        displacement settings exacerbate preexisting inequalities, render women 
        and girls even more vulnerable, and create greater barriers in their 
        ability to benefit from relief, recovery, and long-term reconstruction 
        and development efforts;
Whereas violence against women and girls can result in physical, mental, sexual, 
        reproductive, and other health issues, and may increase vulnerability to 
        HIV;
Whereas more often than not, cases of violence against women and girls goes 
        unreported;
Whereas worldwide, as many as 38 percent of all murders of women are committed 
        by an intimate partner;
Whereas more than 133,000,000 girls and women have experienced some form of 
        female genital mutilation and are at risk for infection (including HIV), 
        infertility, complications during pregnancy, and death;
Whereas women in urban areas are twice as likely as men to experience violence, 
        particularly in developing countries;
Whereas in the United States, 83 percent of girls in grades 8 through 11 (aged 
        12-16) have experienced some form of sexual harassment in public school;
Whereas in the United States, almost 12 percent of new HIV infections among 
        women more than 20 years old during the previous year were attributed to 
        intimate partner violence;
Whereas in the United States, 1 in 5 women have experienced rape or attempted 
        rape in their lifetime, mostly by a current or former partner;
Whereas women living in households with lower annual household incomes 
        experience intimate partner violence at significantly higher rates than 
        women in households with higher annual household incomes;
Whereas women with disabilities are more likely to experience intimate partner 
        violence and sexual violence than women who are able-bodied;
Whereas transgender women are more likely to experience physical violence and 
        discrimination within intimate partner violence, and more likely to 
        experience intimate partner violence in public spaces;
Whereas 44 percent of lesbian women and 61 percent of bisexual women experience 
        rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their 
        lifetime;
Whereas in the United States alone, the costs of intimate partner violence 
        exceed $5,800,000,000 each year, more than two-thirds of which are 
        health care costs; and
Whereas the people of the United States should be encouraged to support the 
        goals and participate in the ``International Day for the Elimination of 
        Violence against Women'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the ideals and goals of the ``International 
        Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women'';
            (2) honors those working domestically and internationally 
        to eliminate violence against women and girls; and
            (3) encourages the President to--
                    (A) address the needs of women and girls 
                experiencing violence worldwide through funding for 
                inclusive, integrated, participatory survivor-led 
                programs;
                    (B) prioritize protections for women and children 
                in fragile and conflict zones and in humanitarian 
                response;
                    (C) address increased rates of violence against 
                marginalized women due to race, ethnicity, gender and 
                sexual identity, and socioeconomic status;
                    (D) increase women's and girls' opportunities 
                worldwide including opportunities for quality education 
                and economic participation;
                    (E) integrate the priorities and solutions of women 
                and girls living in poverty in the prevention and 
                response to sexual violence; and
                    (F) issue a proclamation to the people of the 
                United States to observe the ``International Day for 
                the Elimination of Violence against Women''.
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