[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 187 (Wednesday, December 7, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H8200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SIXTEEN DAYS AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, Sehar, a Pakistani woman in an 
arranged marriage, was constantly raped and abused by her husband. He 
accused her of becoming a doctor only to attract men. He blamed her for 
the miscarriage that she had, and he constantly beat her. He was angry 
when she gave birth to two girls rather than to two boys, and he was an 
abuser of the girls and his wife.
  Sehar and her daughters were able to escape to the United States to 
find safety. She will not go back to Pakistan because her former 
husband's family says they will kill her.
  Violence against women, unfortunately, is too common of a plight for 
women throughout the world. My grandmother used to tell me that you 
never hurt somebody you claim you love. As the leader of the free 
world, it is critical that the United States promote this simple truth 
throughout this country and other countries:
  Every person has the right to a life free of violence.
  I want to thank the gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) for 
bringing this to the attention of the Members of Congress as we reflect 
on this fact during these 16 days against gender violence.
  And that's just the way it is.

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