Afghanistan Child Brides Flogged for Fleeing Forced Marriages

When Khadija, 13, and Basgol, 14, escaped from the much older men they'd been forced to marry, they thought the police would help. Instead, the police officers who found the girls fleeing on a bus sent them back to their home village to be brutally flogged for running away from their husbands. The two girls' fate is nothing unusual in Afghanistan, where marriage of girls under 16 and public flogging—though both illegal—remain widespread.

Young Fistula Advocates Go to Schools and Communities

Zontians are also about the International side also

“It is a dream come true,” remarked Ms. Mariam Pewu, 18, her eyes sparkling with joy as she saw the first team of the Fistula Girls Club leave St. Matthew Lutheran High School in Monrovia’s eastern district of Paynesville to begin an awareness campaign in Gobachop Market, a nearby suburban community in the capital of Liberia.

Tell the U.S. Congress to Pass the International Violence Against Women Act! | Say NO - UNiTE

One out of every three women worldwide has been physically or sexually abused during her lifetime with rates of domestic violence reaching 70 percent in some countries. Violence committed predominantly against women ranges from rape to domestic violence and acid burnings to dowry deaths and so-called honor killings. Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, a public health epidemic and a barrier to solving global challenges like desperate poverty, HIV/AIDS and conflict. Violence and abuse devastates the lives of millions of women, knows no national or cultural barriers, and most importantly, it must be stopped.

The International Violence Against Women Act was re-introduced in the 111^th Congress by bipartisan teams in the Senate and the House on February 4^th, 2010. If passed, this legislation will be major step in the effort to end violence against women across the globe.

Please help make the I-VAWA a reality for millions of women worldwide. Here’s how you can take action:

• U.S. Citizen? Urge your Senator and/or Representative to co-sponsor the I-VAWA. Take action online.

• Write a blog post about the I-VAWA. SeeAmnesty's blog post about the introduction, or use the sample below.

• Write an opinion editorial or letter to the editorabout the I-VAWA. See the samples below for reference.

If passed, the I-VAWA would do the following:

• Address violence against women and girls comprehensively, by supporting health, legal, economic, social, and emergency assistance sectors and incorporating violence prevention and response best practices into such programs.
• Alleviate poverty and increase the cost effectiveness of foreign assistance by investing in women.
• Strengthen security and deter extremism by reducing social tensions.
• Support survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent violence.
• Create a five-year strategy to fight violence against women in countries which have a high incidence of violence against women.
• Define a clear mandate for Senior Officials in the Department of State and USAID for leadership, accountability and coordination in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.
• Enable the U.S. government to develop a faster and more efficient response to violence against women in humanitarian emergencies and conflict-related situations.
• Build the effectiveness of overseas non-governmental organizations - particularly women’s non-governmental organizations – in addressing violence against women.

2010 Komen Sacramento Race for the Cure - Team Statistics

It is a race against time. It will happen. How quickly is up to you! We've come so far. You can help us reach the finish line with your donation to save lives in our community.Your donation is greatly appreciated.

Area 1 Meeting in Menlo Park

The Area 1 meeting in Menlo Park was excellent. Your Vice President (Rhonda Legge) and I look forward to sharing with everyone at the meeting this Wednesday:)

Denim Day USA

Peace Over Violence is proud to present the 11th Annual Denim Day in LA & USA 2010, a campaign to raise awareness and educate the public about rape and sexual assault. This year it is Wednesday April 21, 2010.

"Building Relationships: American and Arab Women"

Our wonderful monthly dinner meeting at the Espanol Restaurant in Sacramento with speaker Amani Younis on "Building Relationships: American and Arab Women.