In her lifetime, approximately one in three women around the world will suffer violence simply because she is a woman. Sex trafficking, rape during times of war, and domestic violence are destructive forces not just for women, but for entire communities. This cannot continue.

The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) (H.R. 4594) is the first comprehensive piece of legislation in the United States that can help address this scourge against women. This legislation is vital to the work that Oxfam does in many places around the world, including the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a recent report released by Oxfam, the devastating effects of rape on women and communities was shown to be widespread throughout eastern Congo.

Please ask your member of Congress to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation. In many cases, it could mean the difference between life and death for a woman or girl.