On May 8th, the Senate re-introduced a bipartisan International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA). I-VAWA represents a huge step forward in the U.S government’s commitment to ending this global scourge so that every woman and girl can live a life free from violence and fulfill her basic human rights.

Below we have included a sample letter which you can send to your member of Congress to urge them to support this important legislation. If you can, we strongly suggest that you add a personal sentence or two for why I-VAWA is important to you to help the letter stand out. However, if you do not have time to include your individual perspective, you can simply fill in the address and name of your Congressman in the letter below and send it via e-mail or postal service.

To see if your Senator has already cosponsored the bill check here.

To see if you Representative has already cosponsored the bill check here.

If your elected official has already cosponsored the bill, please write to thank him/her and ask for him/her to push for its passage.

Thank you for taking a stance on this important issue!

IMA World Health/Chris Glass

Sample Letter/Email

[Date]

The Honorable [First Name] [Last Name],

[Insert the Office Address of your Member of Congress here]

Dear Representative/Senator [Last Name],

I am writing as a constituent and a firm supporter of women’s rights worldwide to urge you to co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act (H.R.3571/S.2307) in 2014. I-VAWA was introduced in the House in November 2013 by Representatives Schakowsky, Lowey, Engel, Wasserman Shultz, Hanna and Gibson. The bill was introduced in the Senate in May 2014 by Senators Boxer, Kirk, Menende, Shaheen and Collins.

More than 70 percent of women in some countries will experience violence in their lifetime. This is beyond a mere statistic, but a point of crisis. The I-VAWA gives the United States an opportunity, as a world leader, to make a critical difference in the lives of women and girls across the globe.

As a representative of the American public, you should be aware that 61 percent of voters believe that global violence against women needs to become one of the top international priorities for the U.S. government (according to a 2009 poll).

Every day, mothers, daughters, and sisters are being beaten and abused, raped and mutilated, burned and enslaved. We have surpassed the point where our involvement in ending this violence is optional; it is now our moral obligation.

I am asking you to stand up for these women and girls and help pass the International Violence Against Women Act.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]