[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 167 (Wednesday, October 31, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13632-S13641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BIDEN (for himself and Mr. Lugar):
  S. 2279. A bill to combat international violence against women and 
girls; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, one in three women worldwide will 
experience gender-based violence in her lifetime. In some countries, 
that's true for 70 percent of women. No country is immune. From 
trafficking of women in Eastern Europe to ``honor'' killings in Jordan 
to rape being used as a brutal weapon of war in Darfur and the Congo, 
violence against women and girls crosses all borders and affects women 
in all social groups, religions and socio-economic classes.
  Around the globe, women and girls face domestic violence, rape, 
forced or child marriage, so-called ``honor'' killings, dowry-related 
murder, human trafficking, and female genital mutilation. The United 
Nations estimates that at least 5,000 ``honor'' killings take place 
each year around the world and more than 130,000,000 girls and young 
women worldwide have been subjected to genital mutilation. A 2006 
United Nations Report found that at least 102 member states had no 
specific laws on domestic violence. The statistics are staggering.
  Not surprisingly, violence against women and girls has a profound 
impact on the health and development of countries worldwide. Violence 
breeds poverty. It impedes economic development because it can prevent 
girls from going to school, or stop women from holding jobs or 
inheriting property, or shut down access to critical health care for 
themselves and their children. We can't eradicate poverty and disease 
unless we prevent and respond to the violence women face in their own 
homes and communities. We cannot truly empower women to become active 
in civic life and promote peace, prosperity and democracy unless they 
personally are free from fear of violence.
  Violence against women is a global health crisis, not just because so 
many women and girls are injured and die as a result, but also because 
inequality and violence interfere with current efforts to combat the 
HIV/AIDS pandemic. Forced sex increases vulnerability to HIV/AIDS 
transmission, in part, because condoms are not likely to be used. In 
sub-Saharan Africa alone, women account for close to three-quarters of 
those living with HIV/AIDS between the ages 18 and 24.
  The picture is grim, and can be discouraging. But the good news is 
that local and international organizations are working in communities 
around the world with courage, sensitivity and great success to help 
women overcome violence at home, in school and at work. But they need 
our help.
  We've made tremendous progress in reducing violence against women 
here in the United States since we passed the Violence Against Women 
Act, VAWA, in 1994. That important work continues. But we cannot ignore 
the devastation wrought by violence in every corner of the globe. Now 
is the time to turn our attention to women in other parts of the 
world--women whose lives are devastated by poverty, political and civic 
exclusion, disease, and violence. Gender-based violence contributes to 
the poverty, inequality and instability that threaten peace. Addressing 
it isn't just moral; it is also smart.
  So today, during this final week of Domestic Violence Awareness 
Month, I am introducing with my good friend from Indiana, Senator 
Lugar, the International Violence Against Women Act. This 
groundbreaking, bipartisan legislation would integrate efforts to end 
gender-based violence into all existing, appropriate U.S. foreign 
assistance programs.
  The International Violence Against Women Act has three main 
components. First, the bill reorganizes and rejuvenates the gender-
related efforts of the State Department by creating one central 
office--the ``Office for

[[Page S13633]]

Women's Global Initiatives'', directed by a Senate-confirmed Ambassador 
who reports directly to the Secretary. The Coordinator of the Office or 
Women's Global Initiatives, the ``Coordinator'', will be charged with 
monitoring, coordinating, and organizing all U.S. resources, programs 
and aid abroad that deals with women's issues, including gender-based 
violence. Additionally, my bill creates a new Office of Women's Global 
Development at the United States Agency for International Development, 
also to be directed by a Senate-confirmed nominee. The Director will be 
responsible for addressing gender-based violence and integrating gender 
into U.S. government assistance programs. The Director will work 
closely with the Coordinator and the Secretary of State to implement 
the provisions of the IVAWA legislation.
  Under the current organizational scheme, projects addressing violence 
against women, either primarily or tangentially, are spread throughout 
the State Department and USAID without a central inventory, game plan 
or leader. My bill will raise the profile of women's issues generally 
at the State Department, and ensure that gender-based violence programs 
are building on past successes, leveraging core competencies and 
working in conjunction with other initiatives.
  Second, the International Violence Against Women Act mandates 
creation of a 5-year, comprehensive strategy, with coordinated 
programming, to prevent and respond to violence against women in 10 to 
20 targeted countries. The act creates a dedicated funding stream of 
$175 million a year to support programs dealing with violence against 
women in five areas: the criminal and civil justice system--everything 
from drafting laws on domestic violence, to enhancing women's access to 
property and inheritance rights, to reforming police practices--health 
care, girls' access to education and school safety, women's access to 
employment and financial resources, and public awareness campaigns that 
change social norms.
  I know from my experience in Delaware that coordinating community 
responses in towns and cities has made all the difference in fighting 
domestic violence and rape. I applied those same principles of 
coordination and joint programming to the International Violence 
Against Women Act. International experts agree on the necessity of a 
multi-disciplinary approach that brings governments and nongovernmental 
organizations to the table to create sustainable infrastructure. To be 
clear, the International Violence Against Women Act is not asking 
countries to reinvent the wheel. At every step our strategy will lead 
to coordination of efforts to have the greatest possible impact. This 
type of effective, cost-efficient, gender-based violence programming 
already exists and is taking place in pockets all around the globe. We 
have the blueprints; my Act would provide the momentum and support for 
a full-scale international priority.
  Finally, as the recent reports from the Congo make tragically clear, 
in situations of humanitarian crises, conflict and post-conflict 
operations, women and girls are vulnerable to horrific acts of 
violence. Reports of refugee women being raped while collecting 
firewood, soldiers sexually abusing girls in exchange for token food 
items, or women subjected to unimaginable brutality and torture as a 
tactic of war are shocking in number and inhumanity. The Act requires 
training, reporting mechanisms and other measures for those who are 
working directly with or protecting refugees and other vulnerable 
populations. The act also requires that the State Department identify 
``critical outbreaks'' in which violence against women and girls is 
being used as a weapon of intimidation and abuse in armed conflict or 
war, or is escalating in an environment of impunity, and to take 
emergency measures to respond to the outbreaks.
  The issue of violence against women and girls is complex and our 
legislation is a bold and ambitious plan. There are limitations on the 
United States' power to ``fix'' a problem that is so widespread. We are 
mindful that no country has a perfect record or all the answers. Yet 
Congress has a long and proud history of tackling complex international 
problems, most recently the devastating epidemic of HIV/AIDS and the 
insidious crime of human trafficking.
  I did not approach this legislation lightly. Over the past months, 
I've solicited information from every relevant office in the State 
Department, USAID and the Department of Justice that works on the 
issues of women's rights and gender-based violence abroad. I asked for 
input and information from the United Nations secretariat, and many of 
its subsidiary agencies who are working to prevent and respond to 
gender-based violence internationally in various capacities. And most 
importantly, the International Violence Against Women Act was drafted 
with the insight and expertise of over 100 nongovernmental 
organizations and 40 women's groups around the globe, including 
American Refugee Committee, Amnesty International, CARE, 
Christian Children's Fund, Family Violence Prevention Fund, Global AIDS 
Alliance, Human Rights Watch, Inter-Agency Gender Working Group, IGWAG, 
International Rescue Committee, International Justice Mission, Women's 
Edge Coalition, Vital Voices Global Partnership and many others. I 
thank all of them for their invaluable assistance and perseverance as 
this bill came together.

  Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said ``Violence 
against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And 
it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, 
culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be 
making real progress towards equity, development and peace.'' I could 
not agree more. My International Violence Against Women Act marshals 
together, for the first time, coordinated American resources, good will 
and leadership to address this global issue. I believe the time is now 
for the U.S. to get actively engaged in the fight for women's lives and 
girls' futures.
  Over the past 30 years, the understanding of human rights and 
violence against women has metamorphosed. A State's responsibility to 
protect women from violence has evolved--what was once seen largely as 
a private, family or cultural matter is now understood by the 
international community as a violation of basic human rights. Violence 
against women is a legal wrong. It cannot be excused or justified or 
ignored. It is an engrained social norm but one that we can dismantle 
over time--one woman at a time--with patience, creativity and sustained 
political will. The International Violence Against Women Act is the 
first step.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and 
a section-by-section analysis be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be placed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2279

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the 
     ``International Violence Against Women Act of 2007''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Statement of policy.
Sec. 4. Definitions.

               TITLE I--COORDINATION AND POLICY PLANNING

Sec. 101. Official positions and institutional changes.
Sec. 102. Policy and programs.
Sec. 103. Inclusion of information on violence against women and girls 
              in human rights reports.

                       TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS

Sec. 201. Amendments to Foreign Service Act of 1980.
Sec. 202. Support for multilateral efforts to end violence against 
              women and girls.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Violence against women and girls is rooted in multiple 
     causes and takes many forms, including physical, sexual, and 
     psychological. It affects all countries, social groups, 
     ethnicities, religions, and socioeconomic classes and is a 
     global health, economic development, and human rights problem 
     of epidemic proportions.
       (2) According to the World Health Organization--
       (A) approximately 1 in 3 of the women in the world will 
     experience violence in her lifetime, with rates of up to 70 
     percent in some countries; and

[[Page S13634]]

       (B) 1 in 5 of the women in the world will be the victim of 
     rape or attempted rape in her lifetime.
       (3) According to the 2006 United Nations Secretary-
     General's report entitled Ending Violence Against Women, 102 
     member states have no specific laws on domestic violence.
       (4) Women and girls face many different types of gender-
     based violence, including forced or child marriage, so-called 
     ``honor killings'', dowry-related murder, human trafficking, 
     and female genital mutilation. The United Nations estimates 
     that at least 5,000 so-called ``honor killings'' take place 
     each year around the world and that more than 130,000,000 
     girls and young women worldwide have been subjected to female 
     genital mutilation.
       (5) The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 2006 
     Report on Gender-Based Violence and HIV/AIDS reports that 
     violence against women is a public health and development 
     problem that significantly increases susceptibility to HIV/
     AIDS. A United Nations study on the global AIDS epidemic 
     found that in sub-Saharan Africa, women who are 15 to 24 
     years old can be infected at rates that are up to 6 times 
     higher than men of the same age.
       (6) Recent studies in Africa indicate that between 16 and 
     47 percent of girls in primary and secondary school report 
     sexual abuse or harassment by male teachers or classmates. 
     Girls who experience sexual violence at school are also more 
     likely to experience unintended pregnancies or become 
     infected with sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/
     AIDS.
       (7) Rape and sexual assault are weapons of war used to 
     torture, intimidate, and terrorize women and communities. 
     Amnesty International reports that women have suffered from 
     sexual violence during conflicts in Rwanda, the former 
     Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone, and most recently in the Democratic 
     Republic of the Congo, where women have suffered from brutal 
     and systematic sexual assaults.
       (8) Displaced, refugee, and stateless women and girls in 
     humanitarian emergencies, conflict settings, and natural 
     disasters face extreme violence and threats because of power 
     inequities, including being forced to exchange sex for food 
     and humanitarian supplies, and being at increased risk of 
     rape, sexual exploitation, and abuse.
       (9) According to the United States Agency for International 
     Development (USAID)--
       (A) 70 percent of the 1,300,000,000 people living in 
     poverty in the world are women and children;
       (B) \2/3\ of the 876,000,000 illiterate adults in the world 
     are women;
       (C) \2/3\ of the 125,000,000 school-aged children who are 
     not in school are girls;
       (D) more than \3/4\ of the 27,000,000 refugees in the world 
     are women and children; and
       (E) 1,600 women die unnecessarily every day during 
     pregnancy and childbirth.
       (10) In 2003, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on 
     Violence Against Women concluded that violence against women 
     violates the basic human rights of women, results in 
     ``devastating consequences for women who experience it, 
     traumatic impact on those who witness it, de-legitimization 
     of States that fail to prevent it and the impoverishment of 
     entire societies that tolerate it.''.
       (11) Violence against women is an impediment to the health, 
     opportunity, and development of women and their societies. 
     According to an October 2006 study of the United Nations 
     Secretary General entitled Ending Violence Against Women, 
     ``Violence against women impoverishes women, their families, 
     communities and nations. It lowers economic production, 
     drains resources from public services and employers, and 
     reduces human capital formation.''.
       (12) The World Bank recognizes that women's health, 
     education, and economic opportunities directly impact the 
     development and well being of their families and their 
     societies. A 2001 World Bank Report, entitled Engendering 
     Development, reports that greater gender equality leads to 
     improved nutrition, lower child mortality, less government 
     corruption, higher productivity, and reduced HIV infection 
     rates.
       (13) Increased access to economic opportunities is crucial 
     to the prevention of and response to domestic and sexual 
     violence. Both microfinance-based interventions and increased 
     asset control have been shown to reduce levels of intimate 
     partner violence in addition to providing economic 
     independence for survivors.
       (14) Campaigns to change social norms, including community 
     organizing, media campaigns, and efforts to engage and 
     educate men and boys, have been shown to change attitudes 
     that condone and tolerate violence against women and girls 
     and reduce violence and abuse.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States--
       (1) to promote women's political, economic, educational, 
     social, cultural, civil, and human rights and opportunities 
     throughout the world;
       (2) to condemn and combat violence against women and girls, 
     and to promote and assist other governments in preventing and 
     responding to such violence;
       (3) to promote ending violence against women and girls 
     around the world, whether the abuse is committed directly by 
     a foreign government, is implicitly committed by such 
     government through hostile laws or de jure mandates to 
     disenfranchise women, or is committed by private actors and 
     the government fails to address the abuse;
       (4) to encourage foreign governments to enact and implement 
     effective legal reform to combat violence against women and 
     girls, and to encourage access to justice, true 
     accountability for abusers, and meaningful redress and 
     support for victims;
       (5) to systematically integrate and coordinate efforts to 
     prevent and respond to violence against women and girls into 
     United States foreign policy and foreign assistance programs, 
     and to expand implementation of effective practices and 
     programs;
       (6) to fully implement the comprehensive international 
     strategy set forth in section 300G of the Foreign Assistance 
     Act of 1961, as added by this Act, which provides assistance 
     to eligible countries to reduce and prevent gender-based 
     violence with coordinated efforts in the criminal justice, 
     health, education, and economic sectors;
       (7) to support and build capacity of indigenous 
     nongovernmental organizations that are working to prevent and 
     respond to violence against women and girls, particularly 
     women's nongovernmental organizations, and to support and 
     encourage United States organizations working in partnership 
     with such nongovernmental organizations;
       (8) to prevent and respond to violence against women and 
     girls through multisectoral methods, working at individual, 
     family, community, local, national, and international levels 
     and incorporating service, prevention, training, and advocacy 
     activities and economic, education, health, legal, and 
     protective intervention services;
       (9) to coordinate activities with recipient country 
     governments, as appropriate, and with other bilateral, 
     multilateral, nongovernmental, and private sector actors 
     active in the relevant sector and country;
       (10) to foster international and regional cooperation with 
     an aim towards defining regional strategies, as appropriate, 
     for preventing and responding to violence against women and 
     girls, and exchanging data and successful strategies;
       (11) to work through international organizations of which 
     the United States is a member, including the United Nations 
     and its specialized agencies, funds and programs to 
     encourage, promote, and advocate for stronger efforts and 
     policies to prevent and end violence against women and girls;
       (12) to enhance training and other programs to prevent and 
     respond to violence against women and girls in humanitarian 
     relief, conflict, and post-conflict operations;
       (13) to enhance training by United States personnel of 
     professional foreign military and police forces and judicial 
     officials to include specific and thorough instruction on 
     preventing and responding to violence against women and 
     girls;
       (14) to press for the implementation of policies and 
     practices in global peace and security efforts, including 
     United Nations peacekeeping and policing operations, that 
     prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and 
     hold personnel accountable for the full implementation of 
     these policies and practices.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Violence against women and girls.--The term ``violence 
     against women and girls''--
       (A) means any act of gender-based violence against women or 
     girls committed because of their gender that results in, or 
     is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological 
     harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, 
     coercion, or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether 
     occurring in public or private life; and
       (B) includes--
       (i) physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring 
     in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female 
     children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital 
     rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional 
     practices harmful to women, nonspousal violence, and violence 
     related to exploitation;
       (ii) physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring 
     within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, 
     sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational 
     institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women, and forced 
     prostitution; and
       (iii) physical, sexual, and psychological violence 
     perpetrated or condoned by the state, wherever it occurs.
       (2) Eligible countries.--The term ``eligible countries'' 
     means countries that are not classified as high-income 
     countries in the most recent edition of the World Development 
     Report for Reconstruction and Development published by the 
     International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

               TITLE I--COORDINATION AND POLICY PLANNING

     SEC. 101. OFFICIAL POSITIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

       Chapter 2 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2166 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

 ``TITLE XIII--INTERNATIONAL PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND 
                                 GIRLS

     ``SEC. 300A. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS DEFINED.

       ``In this title, the term `violence against women and 
     girls' has the meaning given that term in section 5 of the 
     International Violence Against Women Act of 2007.

[[Page S13635]]

       ``Subtitle A--Official Positions and Institutional Changes

     ``SEC. 300B. OFFICE OF WOMEN'S GLOBAL INITIATIVES.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Office of 
     the Secretary of State in the Department of State, the Office 
     of Women's Global Initiatives. The office shall be headed by 
     the Coordinator of the Office of Women's Global Initiatives 
     (referred to in this title as the `Coordinator'), who shall 
     be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
     consent of the Senate. The Coordinator shall report directly 
     to the Secretary and shall have the rank and status of 
     Ambassador at Large.
       ``(b) Purpose.--The Office of Women's Global Initiatives 
     shall be the sole office coordinating all efforts of the 
     United States Government regarding international women's 
     issues and is intended to replace the Office of International 
     Women's Issues in the Office of the Under Secretary for 
     Democracy and Global Affairs in the Department of State.
       ``(c) Duties.--The Coordinator shall have the following 
     responsibilities:
       ``(1) In general.--The Coordinator shall--
       ``(A) design, oversee, and coordinate activities and 
     programs of the United States Government relating to 
     international women's issues; and
       ``(B) direct United States Government resources to--
       ``(i) prevent and respond to violence against women and 
     girls throughout the world; and
       ``(ii) develop the comprehensive international strategy 
     described in section 300G to reduce violence against women 
     and girls.
       ``(2) Principal advisor.--The Coordinator shall serve as 
     the principal advisor to the Secretary of State regarding 
     foreign policy matters relating to women, including violence 
     against women and girls.
       ``(3) Coordinating role.--The Coordinator shall--
       ``(A) oversee and coordinate all resources and activities 
     of the United State Government to combat violence against 
     women and girls internationally, including developing 
     strategies for the integration of efforts to prevent and 
     respond to gender-based violence into United States 
     assistance programs;
       ``(B) coordinate all policies, programs, and funding 
     related to violence against women and girls internationally 
     of the Department of State, including--
       ``(i) the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration;
       ``(ii) the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor;
       ``(iii) the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law 
     Enforcement Affairs;
       ``(iv) the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs;
       ``(v) the Bureau of Political Military Affairs;
       ``(vi) the Bureau of International Organizations Affairs;
       ``(vii) the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs;
       ``(viii) the Foreign Service Institute;
       ``(ix) the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and 
     Stabilization;
       ``(x) the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in 
     Persons;
       ``(xi) the Office of the United States Global AIDS 
     Coordinator; and
       ``(xii) all regional bureaus and offices;
       ``(C) coordinate all policies, programs, and funding 
     related to violence against women and girls internationally 
     in the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, the 
     Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of 
     Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security;
       ``(D) coordinate all policies, programs, and funding 
     relating to violence against women and girls internationally 
     in the United States Agency for International Development 
     (USAID), including the Women's Global Development Office;
       ``(E) monitor and evaluate all such gender-based violence 
     programs administered by the entities listed in subparagraphs 
     (B) through (D), as necessary;
       ``(F) coordinate all policies, programs, and funding of the 
     Millennium Challenge Corporation relating to violence against 
     women and girls internationally;
       ``(G) design, integrate, and, as appropriate, implement 
     policies, programs, and activities related to women's health, 
     education, economic development, legal reform, social norm 
     changes, women's human rights, and protection of women in 
     humanitarian crises, including those identified pursuant to 
     section 300G(c); and
       ``(H) encourage departments listed in subparagraph (C) to 
     create agency-specific programmatic guidelines on addressing 
     violence against women and girls internationally and monitor 
     implementation of those guidelines.
       ``(4) Diplomatic representation.--Subject to the direction 
     of the President and the Secretary of State, the Coordinator 
     is authorized to represent the United States in matters 
     relevant to violence against women and girls internationally 
     in--
       ``(A) contacts with foreign governments, nongovernmental 
     organizations, the United Nations and its specialized 
     agencies, and other international organizations of which the 
     United States is a member; and
       ``(B) multilateral conferences and meetings relevant to 
     violence against women and girls.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 
     through 2012, under the heading `Diplomatic and Consular 
     Programs', to carry out activities under this section. Funds 
     appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall be under the 
     direct control of the Coordinator.

     ``SEC. 300C. WOMEN'S GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established, within the 
     United States Agency for International Development, the 
     Office of Women's Global Development. The Office of Women's 
     Global Development shall be headed by the Director of Women's 
     Global Development (referred to in this title as the 
     `Director'), who shall be appointed by the President, by and 
     with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director shall 
     report directly to the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development and shall consult 
     regularly with the Coordinator of the Office of Women's 
     Global Initiatives.
       ``(b) Purpose.--The Office of Women's Global Development 
     shall be the sole office coordinating all efforts of the 
     United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 
     regarding international women's issues and is intended to 
     replace the Office of Women in Development in USAID in 
     existence on the date of the enactment of this title.
       ``(c) Duties.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Director shall--
       ``(A) integrate gender into all policies, programs, and 
     activities of the United States Agency for International 
     Development to improve the status of women, increase 
     opportunities for women, and support the overall development 
     goals of United States programs and assistance;
       ``(B) ensure that efforts to prevent and respond to 
     violence against women and girls are integrated into United 
     States Government foreign assistance programs at the 
     strategic planning and country operational plan levels; and
       ``(C) monitor the manner in which such activities are 
     integrated, programmed, and implemented in each country plan.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 
     through 2012 to carry out activities and collaboration 
     related to preventing and responding to gender-based 
     violence. Funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection 
     shall be under the direct control of the Director. Such funds 
     are in addition to amounts otherwise available for such 
     purposes.

     ``SEC. 300D. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL VIOLENCE 
                   AGAINST WOMEN.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     Department of State an Advisory Commission on International 
     Violence Against Women (in this section referred to as the 
     `Advisory Commission').
       ``(b) Membership.--
       ``(1) Appointment.--The Advisory Commission shall be 
     composed of--
       ``(A) the Coordinator of Women's Global Initiatives, who 
     shall serve as chair, and the Director of the Women's Global 
     Development Office, both of whom shall serve ex officio as 
     nonvoting members of the Advisory Commission;
       ``(B) 8 members appointed by the Secretary of State who are 
     not officers or employees of the Federal Government;
       ``(C) 3 members appointed by the President pro tempore of 
     the Senate on the joint recommendation of the Majority and 
     Minority Leaders of the Senate; and
       ``(D) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives on the joint recommendation of the Majority 
     and Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives.
       ``(2) Selection.--Members of the Advisory Commission shall 
     be selected from among--
       ``(A) distinguished individuals noted for their knowledge 
     and experience in fields relevant to the issue of 
     international violence against women and girls, including 
     foreign affairs, human rights, and international law;
       ``(B) representatives of nongovernmental organizations and 
     other institutions having knowledge and expertise related to 
     violence against women and girls; and
       ``(C) academics representative of the various scholarly 
     approaches to the issue of international violence against 
     women and girls.
       ``(3) Time of appointment.--The appointments required under 
     paragraph (1) shall be made not later than 120 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this title.
       ``(4) Terms.--The term of each member appointed to the 
     Advisory Commission shall be 3 years. Members shall be 
     eligible for reappointment to a second term.
       ``(c) Duties.--The Advisory Commission shall--
       ``(1) annually make recommendations to the Secretary of 
     State regarding best practices to prevent and respond to 
     violence against women and girls internationally and the 
     effective integration of such practices into the foreign 
     policy of the United States, including assistance 
     programming; and
       ``(2) consult with members of the United States Government 
     and with private groups and individuals on the prevention and 
     response to international violence against women and girls.
       ``(d) Hearings.--In carrying out this section, the Advisory 
     Commission may conduct such hearings, sit and at such times 
     and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, 
     as the Advisory Commission considers appropriate.
       ``(e) Funding.--Members of the Advisory Commission shall be 
     allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence at rates authorized for employees of agencies

[[Page S13636]]

     under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
     Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of duties for the Advisory 
     Commission.
       ``(f) Report of the Advisory Commission.--Not later than 
     May 1 of each year, the Advisory Commission shall submit a 
     report to the President, the Secretary of State, the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
     that sets forth its findings and recommendations for United 
     States policy and programs.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $300,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
     through 2012 to carry out this section.''.

     SEC. 102. POLICY AND PROGRAMS.

       Chapter 2 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2166 et seq.), as amended by section 101, is 
     further amended by adding at the end the following:

                   ``Subtitle B--Policy and Programs

     ``SEC. 300G. COMPREHENSIVE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY TO REDUCE 
                   AND PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.

       ``(a) Development and Implementation of Strategy.--Not 
     later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
     title, the President, with the assistance of the Coordinator 
     of Women's Global Initiatives and Director of Women's Global 
     Development, shall develop and commence implementation of a 
     comprehensive, 5-year international strategy to prevent and 
     respond to violence against women and girls internationally, 
     and shall submit it to the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
     of Representatives.
       ``(b) Collaboration.--In developing the strategy under 
     subsection (a), the President, with the assistance of the 
     Coordinator, shall consult with--
       ``(1) the Secretary of State, including the offices and 
     bureaus listed in section 300B(b)(3)(B), other executive 
     agencies listed in section 300B(b)(3)(C), United States aid 
     agencies and offices as listed in section 300B(b)(3)(D), the 
     Millennium Challenge Corporation listed in section 
     300B(b)(3)(E), and Interagency Task Force to Monitor and 
     Combat Trafficking; and
       ``(2) nongovernmental organizations with demonstrated 
     expertise working on violence against women and girls, 
     women's health, or women's empowerment issues 
     internationally.
       ``(c) Content.--The strategy developed under subsection (a) 
     shall--
       ``(1) identify between 10 and 20 eligible countries that 
     are geographically, ethnically, and culturally diverse, and 
     have severe levels of violence against women and girls;
       ``(2) describe the nature and extent of violence against 
     women and girls in each country;
       ``(3) identify how and to what extent the violence against 
     women and girls in each country is negatively affecting goals 
     of improving the health, education, economic, democracy and 
     civic participation, criminal justice, and internally 
     displaced persons and refugee management sectors in such 
     country and its region;
       ``(4) assess the efforts of the government in each country 
     to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls 
     and assess the potential capacity of each country to manage 2 
     or more of the gender violence-based program activities 
     identified under subsection (d);
       ``(5)(A) describe the programs to be undertaken in 
     cooperation with the governments of each country in specific 
     areas for progress in preventing and responding to violence 
     against women and girls;
       ``(B) identify resources to help implement programs; and
       ``(C) encourage development of national action plans;
       ``(6) for each country, identify 2 or more of the program 
     activities listed in subsection (d) and describe how the 
     selected programs will prevent and respond to the problem of 
     violence against women and girls, including--
       ``(A) increasing legal and judicial protections;
       ``(B) enhancing the capacity of the health sector to 
     respond to such violence;
       ``(C) increasing opportunities for women and girls in 
     education and economic development; or
       ``(D) promoting societal awareness and changing social 
     norms;
       ``(7) include, as appropriate, strategies designed to 
     accommodate the needs of stateless, internally displaced, 
     refugee, or religious or ethnic minority women and girls;
       ``(8) project general levels of resources needed on an 
     annual basis to achieve the stated objective in each country, 
     taking into account activities and funding provided by other 
     donor country governments and other multilateral institutions 
     and leveraging private sector resources;
       ``(9) include potential coordination with existing 
     programs, initiatives, and expertise on preventing and 
     responding to violence against women and girls that exist 
     within nongovernmental organizations, including in-country, 
     civil society organizations, particularly women's 
     organizations and community-based groups;
       ``(10) identify the Federal departments and agencies 
     involved in the execution of the relevant program activities; 
     and
       ``(11) describe the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms 
     established for each country and how they will be used to 
     assess overall progress in preventing and responding to 
     violence against women and girls.
       ``(d) Program Activities Supported.--Assistance provided 
     under this section shall be used to carry out, in each of the 
     countries identified in the strategy required pursuant to 
     subsection (a), 2 or more of the following program 
     activities:
       ``(1) Increasing legal and judicial protections by--
       ``(A) supporting programs that strengthen a coordinated 
     community response to violence against women and girls, 
     including through coordination between judges, police, 
     prosecutors, and legal advocates to enhance prospects for 
     perpetrator accountability;
       ``(B) supporting efforts and providing resources to provide 
     training and technical assistance to police, prosecutors, 
     forensic physicians, lawyers, corrections officers, judges, 
     and judicial officials, and where appropriate, to nonlawyer 
     advocates and traditional community authorities on violence 
     against women and girls;
       ``(C) supporting efforts to reform and revise criminal and 
     civil laws to prohibit violence against women and girls and 
     create accountability for perpetrators;
       ``(D) enhancing the capacity of the justice sector, 
     including keeping official records of all complaints, 
     collecting and safeguarding evidence, systematizing and 
     tracking data on cases of violence against women and girls, 
     and undertaking investigations and evidence gathering 
     expeditiously;
       ``(E) helping women and girls who are victims of violence 
     gain access to the justice sector and supporting them 
     throughout the legal process, including establishing victim 
     and witness units for courts and promoting support for 
     survivor services, including hotlines and shelters;
       ``(F) promoting civil remedies in cases of domestic 
     violence that--
       ``(i) prioritize victim safety and confidentiality and 
     offender accountability;
       ``(ii) grant women and children restraining, protection, or 
     removal orders with appropriate criminal sanctions for 
     violations against perpetrators of violence;
       ``(iii) strengthen and promote women's custodial rights 
     over children and protect children; and
       ``(iv) grant courts authority to provide specific relief 
     pursuant to a restraining or removal order, including 
     restitution, spousal maintenance, child support, payment of 
     debt, or return or equitable distribution of property;
       ``(G) reducing the incidence of violence against women and 
     girls committed by government officials by developing 
     confidential mechanisms for reporting violence against women 
     and girls committed by government officials and institutions 
     and developing laws to punish the perpetrators and remove 
     immunity from state officials;
       ``(H) promoting broader legal protection for women and 
     girls against all forms of violence against women and girls, 
     such as female infanticide and female genital mutilation, and 
     practices that are associated with higher rates of violence 
     against women and girls, such as child and forced marriage; 
     and
       ``(I) increasing the number of women advocates trained to 
     respond to violence against women and girls at police 
     stations, including the creation of domestic violence units 
     and increasing the number of women police.
       ``(2) Carrying out health care initiatives, including--
       ``(A) promoting the integration of programs to prevent and 
     respond to violence against women and girls into existing 
     programs addressing child survival, women's health, family 
     planning, mental health, and HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and 
     treatment;
       ``(B) training of health care providers, including 
     traditional birth attendants, on methods to safely and 
     confidentially assess women and girls seeking health services 
     for intimate partner, family, and sexual violence;
       ``(C) developing and enforcing national and operational 
     women's health, children's health, and HIV/AIDS policies that 
     prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, with 
     accompanying resources, including through cooperative efforts 
     with ministries of health;
       ``(D) developing information gathering systems within the 
     health care sector that, consistent with safety and 
     confidentiality concerns, collect and compile data on the 
     type of violence experienced by women and girls, access to 
     care, age of victims, and relationship of victims to 
     perpetrators;
       ``(E) working with governments to develop partnerships with 
     civil society organizations to create referral networks 
     systems for psychosocial, legal, economic, or other support 
     services; and
       ``(F) integrating screening and assessment for gender-based 
     violence into HIV/AIDS programming and other health 
     programming into all country operation plans, and increasing 
     women's access to information, strategies, and services to 
     protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.
       ``(3) Conducting public awareness programs to change social 
     norms and attitudes, including--
       ``(A) supporting women survivors of violence to educate 
     their communities on the impacts of violence;
       ``(B) engaging men, including faith and traditional 
     leaders;

[[Page S13637]]

       ``(C) providing funding and programmatic support for mass 
     media social change campaigns; and
       ``(D) supporting community efforts to change attitudes 
     about harmful traditional practices, including child 
     marriage, female genital mutilation, and so-called `honor 
     killings'.
       ``(4) Improving economic opportunities for women and girls, 
     including--
       ``(A) supporting programs to help women meet their economic 
     needs and to increase their economic opportunities, in both 
     rural and urban areas, including through support for--
       ``(i) the establishment and development of businesses 
     (micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises) through access 
     to financial and nonfinancial services; and
       ``(ii) education, literacy, and numeracy programs, 
     leadership development and job skills training, especially in 
     nontraditional fields and expected growth sectors;
       ``(B) supporting programs to help increase property rights, 
     social security, and home ownership and land tenure security 
     for women by--
       ``(i) promoting equitable extension of property and 
     inheritance rights, particularly rights to familial and 
     marital property;
       ``(ii) promoting legal literacy, including among faith and 
     traditional leaders, about women's property rights; and
       ``(iii) helping women to make land claims and protecting 
     women's existing claims and advocating for equitable land 
     titling and registration for women, including safeguards for 
     women title-holders in the case of domestic violence 
     disputes;
       ``(C) integrating activities to prevent and respond to 
     violence against women and girls into existing economic 
     opportunity programs by--
       ``(i) integrating education on violence against women and 
     girls into women's microfinance, microenterprise, and job 
     skills training programs; and
       ``(ii) training providers of economic opportunity services 
     and programs in sensitivity to violence against women and 
     girls; and
       ``(D) addressing violence against women and girls in the 
     workplace.
       ``(5) Improving educational opportunities for women and 
     girls, including--
       ``(A) supporting efforts and providing resources to provide 
     training for all teachers and school administrators on 
     school-related violence, in particular increasing awareness 
     of violence against women and girls, and to improve 
     reporting, referral, and implementation of codes of conduct;
       ``(B) working to ensure the safety of girls during their 
     travel to and from school and on school grounds;
       ``(C) including programs for girls and boys on the 
     unacceptability of violence against women and girls; and
       ``(D) conducting national and baseline surveys to collect 
     data on school-related violence against women and girls.

     ``SEC. 300H. ASSISTANCE TO REDUCE INTERNATIONAL VIOLENCE 
                   AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS INTERNATIONALLY.

       ``(a) Coordinating Existing Aid Programs.--The Coordinator 
     of the Women's Global Initiatives, working with the Director 
     of the Office of Women's Global Development, shall ensure 
     that existing programs, contracts, grants, agreements, and 
     foreign assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2166 et seq.), the Migration and Refugee 
     Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.), the 
     Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et 
     seq.), the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, 
     Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7601 et 
     seq.), the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 
     1989 (22 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.), the FREEDOM Support Act (22 
     U.S.C. 5851 et seq.), and other Acts authorizing foreign 
     assistance incorporate, as applicable, measures to prevent 
     and respond to violence against women and girls.
       ``(b) Authority.--To implement and execute the 
     comprehensive international strategy developed pursuant to 
     section 300G, the President is authorized to provide 
     assistance to nongovernmental organizations, multilateral 
     institutions, and foreign countries for program activities 
     described in section 300G(d).
       ``(c) Allocate New Funding.--The Coordinator of the Office 
     of Women's Global Initiatives is authorized to allocate funds 
     to implement and execute the comprehensive international 
     strategy developed pursuant to section 300G.
       ``(d) Use of Funds.--Any funds made available under this 
     section to nongovernmental organizations must be designated 
     to organizations that have demonstrated expertise regarding 
     violence against women and girls internationally, or that are 
     in partnership with such organizations and that have 
     demonstrated capabilities or expertise in a particular 
     program activity described in subsection 300G(d).
       ``(e) Grants to Women's Nongovernmental Organizations and 
     Community-Based Organizations.--Not less than 10 percent of 
     the funds awarded in a fiscal year under this section shall 
     be awarded to women's nongovernmental organizations and 
     community-based organizations.
       ``(f) Award Process.--Funds awarded under this section 
     shall be provided through an open, competitive, and 
     transparent process where possible.
       ``(g) Conditions.--Entities receiving funds awarded through 
     the grant program established under this section--
       ``(1) should include the collection of data and the 
     evaluation of program effectiveness;
       ``(2) should be responsible for developing and reporting on 
     outcomes related to preventing and responding to violence 
     against women and girls;
       ``(3) should gather input from women's nongovernmental 
     organizations or community-based organizations, including 
     organizations with expertise in preventing and responding to 
     violence against women and girls; and
       ``(4) shall consider the safety of women and girls as a 
     primary concern in deciding how to design, implement, 
     monitor, and evaluate programs.
       ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Office of Women's Global Initiatives $175,000,000 for 
     each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this 
     section and section 300G.
       ``(2) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant 
     to paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.
       ``(3) Nonsupplantation.--Funds authorized and appropriated 
     under this Act shall supplement, not supplant, existing funds 
     otherwise available for activities under this title.

     ``SEC. 300I. ANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES EFFORTS TO END 
                   INTERNATIONAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     submission of the comprehensive international strategy 
     developed under section 300G, and annually thereafter, the 
     Secretary of State, assisted by the Coordinator of Women's 
     Global Initiatives, shall submit to Congress a report to be 
     entitled the `Report on International Violence Against Women 
     and Girls'.
       ``(b) Content.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       ``(1) The goals and objectives of the comprehensive 
     international strategy developed under section 300G(a).
       ``(2) The specific criteria used to determine the 
     effectiveness of the strategy.
       ``(3) A description of the coordination of all United 
     States Government resources and international activities to 
     prevent and respond to the problem of violence against women 
     and girls, including--
       ``(A) an identification of the Federal agencies involved;
       ``(B) a description of the coordination between Federal 
     agencies and departments, including those acting in the 
     eligible countries; and
       ``(C) a description of the coordination with non-United 
     States Government entities, including the governments of 
     eligible countries, multilateral organizations and 
     institutions, and nongovernmental organizations.
       ``(4) A description of the relationship between efforts to 
     prevent and respond to violence against women and girls 
     internationally and other United States assistance strategies 
     in developing countries and diplomatic relationships.
       ``(5) A description of efforts to include gender-based 
     violence in United States diplomatic and peacemaking 
     initiatives.
       ``(6) A description of any significant efforts by bilateral 
     and multilateral donors in support of preventing and 
     responding to international violence against women and girls.
       ``(7) A description of the implementation of the agency-
     specific guidelines described in section 300B(d)(3)(H).
       ``(8) A description of the activities of, and funding 
     provided for programs that prevent and respond to violence 
     against women and girls in humanitarian relief, conflict and 
     post-conflict operations, including violence perpetrated by 
     humanitarian workers.
       ``(9) A description of United States training of foreign 
     military and police forces, judicial officials, and 
     humanitarian relief grantees to prevent and respond to 
     violence against women and girls.
       ``(10) A description of data collection efforts conducted 
     under this title.
       ``(11) Identification of all contractors, subcontractors, 
     grantees, and subgrantees receiving United States funds for 
     preventing and responding to violence against women and 
     girls.
       ``(12) Recommendations related to best practices, effective 
     strategies, and suggested improvements to enhance the impact 
     of efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women 
     and girls.
       ``(13) A description of efforts to evaluate the 
     accountability and efficacy of the programs funded pursuant 
     to section 300H(g).
       ``(14) A compilation of the descriptions on the nature and 
     extent of violence against women and girls included in the 
     annual Human Rights Reports required under section 116(d) of 
     the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended by this Act.
       ``(15) The identification of countries or regions with 
     critical outbreaks of violence against women and girls 
     described in subsection 300L(h), including--
       ``(A) an analysis of the situations, including the factors 
     driving the violence, the role of government, militia, rebel, 
     or other armed forces in the violence; and
       ``(B) an analysis of United States and other multilateral, 
     bilateral, or governmental efforts to prevent or respond to 
     the violence, assist survivors, or hold the perpetrators 
     accountable.
       ``(16) A description of United States resources that are 
     being used--
       ``(A) to assist in efforts to prevent or respond to the 
     critical outbreaks of violence described in section 300L(h);
       ``(B) assist survivors of such violence;

[[Page S13638]]

       ``(C) hold perpetrators accountable for such violence; and
       ``(D) encourage all parties to the armed conflict to 
     protect women and girls from violence.
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State to 
     meet the reporting requirements under this section--
       ``(1) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
       ``(2) $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 
     2012.

     ``SEC. 300J. DATA COLLECTION.

       ``(a) In General.--The Coordinator of Women's Global 
     Initiatives, assisted by the Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development and the Director 
     of the Women in Development Office, shall be responsible for 
     researching, collecting, monitoring, and evaluating data 
     related to efforts to prevent and respond to violence against 
     women and girls internationally.
       ``(b) Use of Funds.--Funds made available under this 
     section may be used for the following purposes:
       ``(1) To collect and analyze data on the scope and extent 
     of all forms of violence against women and girls, including 
     under-documented forms of violence and violence against 
     marginalized groups. This work may include original research 
     or analysis of existing data sets.
       ``(2) To help governments of countries systematically 
     collect and analyze data on violence against women and girls, 
     including both national surveys and data collected by service 
     providers.
       ``(3) To use internationally comparable indicators, norms, 
     and methodologies for measuring the scope, prevalence, and 
     incidence of violence against women and girls.
       ``(4) To include data on violence against women and girls 
     in national and international data collection efforts, 
     including those administered and funded by the United States 
     Agency for International Development, the Millennium 
     Challenge Corporation, and the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention.
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2008 through 2012 to carry out the activities under this 
     section.

     ``SEC. 300K. ENHANCING UNITED STATES TRAINING OF FOREIGN 
                   MILITARY AND POLICE FORCES ON VIOLENCE AGAINST 
                   WOMEN AND GIRLS.

       ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to ensure 
     that United States programs to train foreign military and 
     police forces and judicial officials include instruction on 
     preventing and responding to violence against women and girls 
     internationally.
       ``(b) Covered Programs.--The programs covered under this 
     section include--
       ``(1) activities authorized under the Foreign Assistance 
     Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.); and
       ``(2) activities under section 1206 of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109-163; 
     119 Stat. 3456) to build the capacity of foreign military and 
     police forces to conduct counterterrorist operations or 
     support military and stability operations in which the United 
     States is participating.
       ``(c) Authorization.--The Secretary of State and the 
     Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Coordinator of 
     Women's Global Initiatives, shall--
       ``(1) incorporate training on how to prevent and respond to 
     violence against women and girls into the basic training 
     curricula of foreign military and police forces and judicial 
     officials; and
       ``(2) ensure that United States assistance to units 
     involved in regional or multilateral peacekeeping operations 
     includes training on preventing and responding to violence 
     against women and girls internationally.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $8,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2008 through 2012 to carry out the activities under this 
     section.

     ``SEC. 300L. ADDRESSING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS IN 
                   HUMANITARIAN RELIEF, PEACEKEEPING, CONFLICT, 
                   AND POST-CONFLICT OPERATIONS.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section, the term `Inter-Agency 
     Standing Committee' means the committee established in 
     response to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/182 
     (1991).
       ``(b) Activities of the Department of State the United 
     States Agency for International Development.--The Secretary 
     of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency 
     for International Development shall--
       ``(1) in consultation with the Coordinator of Women's 
     Global Initiatives, provide assistance to programs that 
     prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in 
     all humanitarian relief, conflict, and post-conflict 
     operations, including--
       ``(A) building the capacity of nongovernmental 
     organizations to address the special protection needs of 
     women and children affected by humanitarian, conflict, or 
     post-conflict operations;
       ``(B) supporting local and international nongovernmental 
     initiatives to prevent, detect, and report violence against 
     women and girls;
       ``(C) conducting protection and security assessments for 
     refugees and internally displaced persons in camps or in 
     communities to improve the design and security of camps, with 
     special emphasis on the security of women and girls;
       ``(D) supporting efforts to reintegrate survivors of a 
     humanitarian relief, conflict, or post-conflict operation 
     through education, psychosocial assistance, trauma 
     counseling, family and community reinsertion and 
     reunification, and medical assistance; and
       ``(E) providing legal services for women and girls who are 
     victims of violence during a humanitarian relief, conflict or 
     post-conflict operation, including the collection of evidence 
     for war crime tribunals and advocacy for legal reform; and
       ``(2) require that all grantees deployed in humanitarian 
     relief, conflict, and post-conflict operations--
       ``(A) comply with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee's Six 
     Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse;
       ``(B) train all humanitarian workers in preventing and 
     responding to violence against women and girls, including in 
     the use of mechanisms to report violence against women and 
     girls;
       ``(C) conduct appropriate public outreach to make known to 
     the host community the mechanisms to report violence against 
     women and girls; and
       ``(D) promptly and appropriately respond to reports of 
     violence against women and girls and treat survivors in 
     accordance with best practices regarding confidentiality.
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Department of State and the United States Agency for 
     International Development $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
     years 2008 through 2010 for programs described in subsection 
     (b)(1) that prevent and respond to violence against women and 
     girls in humanitarian relief, conflict, and post-conflict 
     operations, in addition to amounts otherwise available for 
     such purposes.
       ``(2) Funding not at expense of other humanitarian 
     programs.--Any amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) 
     may not be provided at the expense of other humanitarian 
     programs.
       ``(d) Activities of the United States Agency for 
     International Development.--The Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development, in consultation 
     with the Coordinator of Women's Global Initiatives, shall 
     designate and deploy, as appropriate, protection officers as 
     an integral part of Disaster Assistance Response Teams to 
     ensure that programs to prevent and address violence against 
     women and girls are integrated into humanitarian relief, 
     conflict, and post-conflict operations.
       ``(e) Activities of the Department of State.--Not later 
     than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this title, 
     the Secretary of State shall submit a report to Congress on 
     efforts to--
       ``(1) require that all private military contracting firms 
     hired by the Department of State for humanitarian relief, 
     conflict, and post-conflict operations--
       ``(A) demonstrate a commitment to expanding the number and 
     roles of women in such operations;
       ``(B) train all contractors who will be deployed to 
     humanitarian relief, conflict, or post-conflict operations in 
     preventing and responding to violence against women and 
     girls. including in the use of mechanisms to report violence 
     against women and girls;
       ``(C) conduct appropriate public outreach to make known to 
     the host community the mechanisms to report violence against 
     women and girls; and
       ``(D) promptly and appropriately respond to reports of 
     violence against women and girls and treat survivors in 
     accordance with best practices regarding confidentiality; and
       ``(2) assist women and girls formally involved in, or 
     associated with, fighting forces as part of any multilateral 
     or bilateral Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and 
     Reintegration efforts by providing--
       ``(A) protection and suitable separate facilities for women 
     and girls in demobilization and transit centers;
       ``(B) equitable reintegration activities and opportunities 
     to women and girls, including access to schooling, vocational 
     training, employment, and childcare; and
       ``(C) essential medical care and psychosocial support for 
     women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence.
       ``(f) Activities of the Department of Defense.--The 
     Secretary of Defense shall--
       ``(1) in consultation with the Coordinator of Women's 
     Global Initiatives and the Director of the Office of Military 
     Affairs of the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian 
     Assistance of the United States Agency for International 
     Development, provide training in preventing and responding to 
     violence against civilian women and girls to all United 
     States military personnel, military contractors, military 
     observers, and military police forces who will be deployed to 
     humanitarian relief, conflict, and post-conflict operations;
       ``(2) in consultation with the Coordinator of Women's 
     Global Initiatives and the Director of the Office of Military 
     Affairs of the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian 
     Assistance, establish mechanisms for reporting incidences of 
     violence against civilian women and girls by United States 
     military personnel, military contractors, military observers, 
     and police forces participating in humanitarian relief, 
     peacekeeping, and post-conflict operations; and
       ``(3) establish appropriate public outreach to notify the 
     civilian population of the mechanisms for reporting 
     incidences of violence against civilian women and girls by 
     United States military personnel, military

[[Page S13639]]

     contractors, military observers, and police forces.
       ``(g) Addressing Violence Against Civilian Women and Girls 
     by United Nations Peacekeepers.--
       ``(1) Department of state activities.--The Secretary of 
     State shall encourage member states of the United Nations--
       ``(A) to support expanding the number and roles of female 
     officers in all United Nations peacekeeping missions, whether 
     as military forces, civilian police, or military observers; 
     and
       ``(B) to routinely put forward the names of qualified 
     female candidates for senior United Nations military and 
     civilian management positions, particularly for overseas 
     missions.
       ``(2) Sense of congress regarding actions of united nations 
     peacekeepers.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
     Secretary-General of the United Nations should continue to 
     strengthen the existing ability of the United Nations 
     Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of 
     Field Support to prevent and respond to violence against 
     women and girls by United Nations military and civilian 
     personnel by--
       ``(A) requiring that troop contributing countries properly 
     train all soldiers on the United Nations guidelines regarding 
     appropriate conduct towards civilians, in particular those 
     guidelines that address violence against women and girls, 
     before participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions;
       ``(B) supporting the expansion of the role and number of 
     female officers in all United Nations peacekeeping missions, 
     whether as military forces, civilian police, or military 
     observers;
       ``(C) strongly encouraging all United Nations member states 
     to routinely put forward the names of qualified female 
     candidates for senior United Nations military and civilian 
     management positions, particularly for overseas missions;
       ``(D) ensuring appropriate mechanisms are in place for 
     individuals to safely bring allegations of violence against 
     women and girls to the attention of United Nations 
     peacekeeping mission commanders and the United Nations Office 
     of Internal Oversight;
       ``(E) ensuring the capability and capacity for the United 
     Nations Office of Internal Oversight to investigate all 
     credible allegations of violence against women and girls 
     timely and efficiently, and in a manner that protects the 
     whistleblower;
       ``(F) improving informational programs for all United 
     Nations personnel on their responsibility to prevent violence 
     against women and girls and not to engage in acts of violence 
     against women and girls;
       ``(G) demanding that troop contributing countries--
       ``(i) thoroughly investigate allegations of their nationals 
     engaging in violence against women and girls while serving on 
     United Nations peacekeeping missions; and
       ``(ii) punish those found guilty of such misconduct; and
       ``(H) continuing to permanently exclude individuals found 
     to have engaged in violence against women and girls as well 
     as troop contingent commanders and civilian managerial 
     personnel complicit in such behavior, from participating in 
     future United Nations peacekeeping missions.
       ``(h) Emergency Measures for Critical Outbreaks of Violence 
     During Conflict or Post-Conflict Operations.--
       ``(1) Emergency response to critical outbreaks.--The 
     Secretary of State, in consultation with the Coordinator of 
     Women's Global Initiatives, the Director of National 
     Intelligence, and the Secretary of Defense, shall identify 
     and take emergency measures to respond to critical outbreaks 
     of violence against women and girls in situations of armed 
     conflict when it is determined that the violence is being 
     used as a weapon of intimidation and abuse.
       ``(2) Determination.--Violence against women and girls 
     shall be determined to be a `critical outbreak' if--
       ``(A) a United States Government report, allied government 
     information, or credible non-governmental or media accounts 
     depict a widespread pattern of violence against women or 
     girls, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, 
     that is escalating in the number of victims or brutality of 
     attacks and that takes place in an environment of relative 
     impunity; or
       ``(B) escalating violence against women or girls is part of 
     an organized campaign by governmental or rebel forces or 
     militias.
       ``(3) Emergency measures.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the identification of a critical outbreak, the Secretary of 
     State, in consultation with the Coordinator of Women's Global 
     Initiatives, the Director of National Intelligence, and the 
     Secretary of Defense, shall develop emergency measures to 
     respond to the outbreak identified under paragraph (1).
       ``(4) Consultation.--In developing emergency measures under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary of State, with the assistance of 
     the Coordinator, shall consult with--
       ``(A) nongovernmental organizations with demonstrated 
     expertise working on preventing and addressing systematic 
     violence against women and girls as a weapon of intimidation 
     and abuse in situations of conflict and war; and
       ``(B) international organizations, such as the United 
     Nations and its subsidiary funds, agencies, and programs, 
     which are preventing and addressing systematic violence 
     against women and girls as a weapon of intimidation and abuse 
     in situations of conflict and war.
       ``(5) Content.--The emergency measures developed under 
     paragraph (1) shall include a description of--
       ``(A) the bilateral and multilateral diplomatic efforts 
     that the Secretary of State will take to address the critical 
     outbreak, including--
       ``(i) efforts with the government in which the violence is 
     occurring, governments of the region in which the violence is 
     occurring, and other allied governments; and
       ``(ii) efforts in international fora, such as the United 
     Nations and its subsidiary agencies, funds and programs, 
     including in the United Nations Security Council, as 
     appropriate; and
       ``(B) the efforts by the United States Government to--
       ``(i) protect women and girls at risk in a critical 
     outbreak region;
       ``(ii) urge all parties to the armed conflict to protect 
     women and girls; and
       ``(iii) facilitate the prosecution of those responsible for 
     the violence in a critical outbreak area.
       ``(6) Notice.--The Secretary of State shall notify Congress 
     of efforts to respond to critical outbreaks, including a 
     description of the bilateral and multilateral diplomatic 
     efforts of the Department of State.
       ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to 
     amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (c), 
     there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary for emergency measures, including the expansion of 
     reporting mechanisms and programs, for each critical outbreak 
     of violence identified under this section.''.

     SEC. 103. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 
                   AND GIRLS IN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS.

       Section 116(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2151n(d)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; and'' and inserting 
     a semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (11)(C), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(12) wherever applicable, the nature and extent of 
     violence against women and girls.''.

                       TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS

     SEC. 201. AMENDMENTS TO FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1980.

       (a) Performance Pay.--Section 405 of the Foreign Service 
     Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3965) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(f) Promotion of Human Rights.--Service in the promotion 
     of internationally recognized human rights, including 
     preventing and responding to violence against women and 
     girls, shall serve as a basis for the award of performance 
     pay.''.
       (b) Foreign Service Awards.--Section 614 of the Foreign 
     Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4013) is amended by inserting 
     ``and preventing and responding to violence against women and 
     girls'' after ``religion''.
       (c) Foreign Service Training.--Chapter 2 of title I of the 
     Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 212. TRAINING FOR FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS.

       ``The Secretary of State, assisted by the Coordinator of 
     Women's Global Initiatives, shall include, as part of the 
     standard training provided for officers of the Service 
     (including chiefs of mission), instruction on international 
     violence against women and girls, including domestic and 
     sexual violence against women and girls in humanitarian 
     relief, conflict, and post-conflict operations.''.

     SEC. 202. SUPPORT FOR MULTILATERAL EFFORTS TO END VIOLENCE 
                   AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to the International 
     Organizations and Programs Account $5,000,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to support the United Nations 
     Development Fund for Women Trust Fund in Support of Actions 
     to Eliminate Violence Against Women.

Section-by-Section Summary of the International Violence Against Women 
                              Act of 2007

       Sec. 1. Short Title.
       Sec. 2. Table of Contents.
       Sec. 3. Findings.--This section details the magnitude of 
     the problem of violence against women and girls in families, 
     communities, and countries around the world.
       Sec. 4. Statement of Policy.--This section states that it 
     is U.S. policy to promote women's political, economic, 
     educational, social, cultural, civil, and human rights and 
     opportunities throughout the world and to prevent and respond 
     to violence against women and girls.
       Sec. 5. Definitions.--This section defines ``violence 
     against women as ``any act of gender-based violence against 
     women or girls committed because of their gender that results 
     in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or 
     psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats 
     of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, 
     whether occurring in public or private life.'' (Identical to 
     the widely-used, internationally-accepted definition.)


               Title I: Coordination and Policy Planning

       Sec. 101. Official Positions and Institutional Changes.--
     This section amends chapter 2, part I of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2166 et seq) by adding the 
     following new title: ``Title XIII--International

[[Page S13640]]

     Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls''.
       Sec. 300A. Violence Against Women and Girls Defined.--
     ``Violence against women'' is defined in section 5 of the 
     International Violence Against Women Act of 2007.


        Subtitle A--Official Positions and Institutional Changes

       Sec. 300B. Office of Women's Global Initiatives.--This 
     section establishes an ``Office of Women's Global 
     Initiatives'' in the immediate office of the Secretary of 
     State. The Coordinator of the Office of Women's Global 
     Initiatives (the ``Coordinator'') will be appointed by the 
     President with the advice and consent of the Senate and with 
     the rank and status of Ambassador at Large. The Coordinator 
     will design, oversee, and coordinate activities of the U.S. 
     Government related to international women's issues, including 
     violence against women and girls, and will develop the 
     comprehensive international strategy as provided in this 
     bill. The Coordinator will integrate efforts to reduce 
     violence against women into existing U.S. Government 
     assistance programs; allocate new funding to new programs; 
     design, integrate, and implement new programs; and monitor 
     and evaluate all programs. This section authorizes the 
     appropriation of $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2008-2012 to perform these office functions.
       Sec. 300C. Women's Global Development Office.--This section 
     establishes the Office of Women's Global Development within 
     the United States Agency for International Development 
     (USAID). The head of the office will be the Director of 
     Women's Global Development (the ``Director''), who will be 
     appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the 
     Senate and will report directly to the Administrator. The 
     Director will consult regularly with the Coordinator of the 
     Office of Women's Global Initiatives. The Director will 
     integrate gender into USAID programs and activities and will 
     ensure that efforts to prevent and respond to violence 
     against women and girls are integrated into U.S. Government 
     assistance programs. This section authorizes the 
     appropriation of $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2008-2012 to perform these office functions.
       Sec. 300D. Advisory Commission on International Violence 
     Against Women and Girls.--This section establishes an 
     Advisory Commission on International Violence Against Women 
     in the Department of State. The Advisory Commission will be 
     composed of the Coordinator of Women's Global Initiatives, 
     the Director of the Women's Global Development Office, eight 
     members appointed by the President, three members appointed 
     by the President pro tempore of the Senate, and three members 
     appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
     Members will have expertise in the issue of violence against 
     women and girls internationally and will include 
     representatives of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and 
     academics. This section authorizes the appropriation of 
     $300,000 for each of fiscal years 2008-2012 to carry out the 
     Commission's activities.
       Sec. 102. Policy and Programs.--This section adds the new 
     subtitle: ``Subtitle B--Policy and Programs''.
       Sec. 300G. Comprehensive International Strategy to Reduce 
     and Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.--This section 
     mandates the President, with the assistance of the 
     Coordinator of Women's Global Initiatives and the Director of 
     the Women's Global Development Office, within one year of the 
     enactment of the Act, to submit to Congress a 5-year, 
     comprehensive strategy to combat violence against women 
     internationally.
       The strategy will identify 10-20 low to middle income 
     countries that have severe levels of gender-based violence. 
     The strategy will describe the violence problems in each 
     country and how the domestic and/or sexual violence is 
     preventing sustainable progress in meeting humanitarian and/
     or development goals. The strategy will assess each country's 
     capacity for change and the necessary collaboration. For each 
     country, the strategy will describe two or more new programs 
     that will be implemented to address the gender-based 
     violence. The strategy will explain the coordination with 
     existing country programs, experts and organizations and will 
     identify what U.S. government agencies will be involved for 
     each country initiative. Finally, the strategy mandates 
     monitoring, assessment and accountability mechanisms for each 
     country's programs.
       As mentioned, the strategy will designate two or more 
     programs to be implemented in each of the selected countries. 
     This section sets forth a menu of possible, new gender-
     based violence program activities within five different 
     sectors--legal reform and judicial protection, health care 
     initiatives, public awareness campaigns, economic 
     improvements and increasing educational opportunities.
       Sec. 300H. Assistance to Reduce Violence Against Women and 
     Girls Internationally.--This section authorizes the 
     Coordinator to incorporate measures combating violence 
     against women into existing acts and government legislation. 
     It gives the Coordinator authority to provide annually $175 
     million of new funding to federal agencies, NGOs, community-
     based organizations, foreign governments, and multilateral 
     institutions seeking to prevent and to reduce violence 
     against women through the activities described in the 
     international strategy.
       Sec. 300I. Annual Report on International Violence Against 
     Women and Girls.--This section determines that, not more than 
     one year after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, with 
     the assistance of the Coordinator and the Director, will 
     submit an annual report to Congress on the U.S. progress to 
     end international violence against women and girls. The 
     report will incorporate the comprehensive international 
     strategy and detail the progress of the grant programs, the 
     collaboration with multinational organizations, the training 
     administered to humanitarian and military forces on gender-
     based violence, and the status of best practices developed to 
     address the violence. This section authorizes the 
     appropriation of $2,500,000 for the year 2008 and $500,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2009-2012 to generate the report.
       Sec. 300J. Data Collection, Research, Monitoring, and 
     Evaluation.--This section states that the Coordinator, with 
     the assistance of the Administrator of USAID and the Director 
     of the Women's Global Development Office, is responsible for 
     researching, collecting, monitoring, and evaluating data on 
     the effectiveness of programs designed as part of the global 
     strategy to address violence against women and girls. Funds 
     will be used to conduct national surveys and original 
     research, and to monitor the effectiveness of new and 
     existing programs. This section authorizes the appropriation 
     of $20,000,000 to carry out the activities listed.
       Sec. 300K. Enhancing United States Training of Foreign 
     Military and Police Forces on Violence Against Women and 
     Girls.--This section mandates that the Secretary of State and 
     the Secretary of Defense report to Congress on efforts to 
     incorporate instruction on preventing and responding to 
     violence against women and girls in all basic training 
     curricula of foreign military and police forces and judicial 
     officials, and that such training shall be a component of all 
     U.S. assistance to regional or multilateral peacekeeping 
     units. Under this section, $8,000,000 is authorized for each 
     of fiscal years 2008-2012 to carry out such training 
     activities.
       Sec. 300L. Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls in 
     Humanitarian Relief, Peacekeeping, Conflict, and Post-
     Conflict Operations.--This section increases the ability of 
     the United States Agency for International Development, the 
     Department of State and the Department of Defense to prevent 
     and address violence against women and girls in humanitarian 
     relief, peacekeeping, conflict and post-conflict operations.
       Programs and grantee training.--Under this section, the 
     Secretary of State and Administrator of USAID shall include 
     programs to prevent and respond to violence against women and 
     girls in all humanitarian relief, conflict, and post-conflict 
     operations under their authority. There is authorized to be 
     appropriated $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008-2012 
     to carry out such activities.
       The Secretary of State and Administrator of USAID shall 
     also require that all grantees that are deployed in such 
     operations comply with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee 
     Guidelines for Gender-Based Violence, and train all 
     humanitarian workers in preventing and responding to violence 
     against women and girls. Such training shall include the use 
     of mechanisms to report violence against women and girls. 
     Grantees shall be required to conduct public outreach 
     campaigns to make known to the host community the mechanisms 
     to report incidents of violence against women and girls, 
     promptly respond to reports of such violence, and treat 
     survivors confidentially.
       Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTS).--This section 
     also mandates that the Administrator of USAID deploy, as 
     appropriate, protection officers as part of Disaster 
     Assistance Response Teams (DART) to implement programs to 
     prevent and address violence against women and girls.
       State Department Report on Private Military Contractors and 
     DDR efforts.--Under this section, the Secretary of State is 
     required to submit a report outlining the Department's 
     efforts to require that all private military contracting 
     firms hired for humanitarian relief, conflict, and post-
     conflict operations demonstrate a commitment to expanding the 
     number and role of women, and train all contractors in 
     preventing and responding to violence against women and 
     girls, including in the use of mechanisms to report such 
     violence.
       The report shall also include information on the 
     Department's efforts to establish programs to assist women 
     and girls as part of any multilateral or bilateral 
     Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration 
     [DDRR] programs.
       Emergency Measures to respond to violence in Armed 
     Conflict.--This section requires the Secretary of State to 
     take emergency measures to identify and respond to ``critical 
     outbreaks'' of violence against women and girls being used as 
     a weapon of intimidation and abuse in situations of conflict 
     and war, and shall notify Congress with a description, 
     including bilateral and multilateral efforts with the 
     government in which the violence is occurring, and 
     governments of the surrounding region.
       Department of Defense Training.--This section requires the 
     Secretary of Defense to provide training in preventing and 
     responding to violence against civilian women and girls to 
     all United States military personnel and contractors who will 
     be deployed to humanitarian relief, conflict, and post-
     conflict operations. The training must include mechanisms for 
     reporting incidences of violence, as well as public outreach 
     to make known to the civilian population the mechanisms.

[[Page S13641]]

       Sense of the Senate Concerning U.N. Peacekeepers.--This 
     section expresses the Sense of the Senate that the UN 
     Secretary General should strengthen the United Nations' 
     capability to prevent and respond to violence against 
     civilian women and girls by United Nations Peacekeepers.
       Sec. 104. Inclusion of Information on Violence Against 
     Women and Girls in Human Rights Reports.--This section amends 
     Section 116(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2151n) to include a description of the nature and 
     extent of violence against women in the Department of State's 
     annual Human Rights Report.


                       Title II: Other Provisions

       Sec. 201. Amendments to Foreign Service Act of 1980.--This 
     section amends Section 405 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 
     (22 U.S.C. 3965) to provide that service in the promotion of 
     human rights, including the rights of women and girls, will 
     serve as a basis for performance pay.
       Sec. 212. Training for Foreign Service Officers.--This 
     section amends Chapter 2 of title I of the Foreign Service 
     Act of 1980 to provide for training for foreign service 
     officers on international violence against women.
       Sec. 202. Support For Multilateral Efforts to End Violence 
     Against Women and Girls.--This section authorizes the 
     appropriation of $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008-
     2012 to the United Nations Development Fund for Women 
     (UNIFEM) Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate 
     Violence Against Women.

                          ____________________