[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 39 (Friday, March 7, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S1737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, on March 8 we will commemorate
International Women's Day, which, since 1911, has given us an
opportunity to pause and assess the status of women worldwide. Since
that time, we have seen great achievements by women in many parts of
the world. The last century began with women in the United States
fighting for the right to vote, while today we see the first real
chance that a woman will be elected President.
While substantial progress has been made here and in other countries,
millions of women around the world continue to live in poverty and
fear. Women are denied decent health care, denied economic
opportunities, denied education, and denied security for themselves and
their children. Women face epidemic levels of violence. One in three
women worldwide will experience gender-based violence in her lifetime.
In some countries, that is true for 70 percent of women. No country is
immune. From the trafficking of women in Eastern Europe, to ``honor''
killings in the Middle East, to the use of rape as a weapon of war in
Darfur and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, violence against women
and girls crosses all borders and affects women in all social groups,
religions and socioeconomic classes.
A recently released survey of 1,500 women in Iraq by Women for Women
International indicates that women there are suffering high levels of
violence. The survey found that 63.9 percent of those surveyed believe
that violence against women is increasing for reasons including lack of
respect for women's rights and a worsening economy. The report quotes a
police chief in the southern city of Basra who says that ``[r]eligious
vigilantes have killed at least 40 women this year . . . because of how
they dressed, their mutilated bodies found with notes warning against
`violating Islamic teachings.' ''
Violence has a profound impact on the health and development of
countries worldwide. Violence against women and girls violates their
basic human rights. It impedes women's full and active participation in
their communities and societies. And it limits our effort to foster
development around the world. Violence prevents girls from going to
school, stops women from holding jobs, and limits access to critical
health care for women 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. And we can't empower women to become
active in civic life and promote peace, prosperity and democracy unless
they personally are free from fear of violence. It is no surprise,
then, that at this year's World Economic Forum, Secretary Rice stated
that if she could focus on one thing in developing countries, it would
be the empowerment of women.
Violence against women is a global health crisis, not just because so
many women and girls are injured and die but also because the violence
interferes with efforts to save the lives of pregnant women and babies.
Rape increases vulnerability to HIV-AIDS transmission. 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 organizations are working in communities around the world
with courage, sensitivity, and success to help women overcome violence
at home, in school, and at work. Governments are bringing together all
sectors of their country to try to prevent and end abuse. But they need
our help.
We have made tremendous progress in reducing violence against women
here in the United States since we passed the Violence Against Women
Act, VAWA, in 1994. It is time to throw our weight and leadership
behind efforts to help women and their families worldwide lead safer,
healthier lives. Stopping gender-based violence isn't just the moral
thing to do; it is also smart diplomacy since violence contributes to
the poverty, inequality, and instability that threaten our security.
Last fall, Senator Lugar and I introduced S. 2279, the International
Violence Against Women Act. This groundbreaking, bipartisan legislation
would ensure that our foreign assistance programs include efforts to
end gender-based violence.
We would accomplish this goal in three ways:
First, we propose to reorganize and rejuvenate the gender-related
efforts of the State Department by creating one central office--the
Office for Women's Global Initiatives, directed by a Senate-confirmed
Ambassador who reports directly to the Secretary of State. The
coordinator will monitor and coordinate all U.S. resources, programs,
and aid abroad that deal with women's issues, including gender-based
violence. This centralization will ensure the most efficient use of
taxpayer funds.
Second, we mandate a 5-year, comprehensive strategy to combat
violence against women in 10 to 20 targeted countries. We would
allocate $175 million a year to support programs dealing with violence
against women in five areas: the criminal and civil justice system,
health care, access to education and school safety, women's economic
empowerment, and public awareness campaigns that change social norms.
Third, we know through terrible experience that women and girls are
especially vulnerable to violence in humanitarian crises and in
conflict and postconflict situations. Reports of refugee women being
raped while collecting firewood, soldiers sexually abusing girls
through bribery with token food items, or women subjected to torture as
a tool of war are horrific. The act requires training for workers and
peacekeeping forces and establishes reporting mechanisms and other
emergency measures.
The issue of violence against women and girls is complex, and our
legislation is ambitious. 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 epidemic of
HIV-AIDS and the crime of human trafficking.
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.'' We could
not agree more. Our International Violence Against Women Act brings
together, for the first time, coordinated American resources and
leadership to this global issue.
We believe the time is now for the United States to get actively
engaged in the fight for women's lives and girls' futures. There is no
better way to commemorate International Women's Day.
____________________