U.S. Government Allocates $150 Million to Prevent Global Gender-Based Violence

For the first time in our history, the U.S. government has allocated $150 million specifically for ending gender-based violence globally – and an additional $50 million is allocated for women’s leadership programs. The funding, included in the Omnibus budget that has been approved by Congress, is specifically for the implementation of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally, which was developed around the framework called for in the International Violence Against Women Act.

These new funds are a critical down payment on our efforts to help end the violent beating, raping, and killing of women and girls around the world. They will go toward implementing a multi-sectoral, multi-country strategy that addresses multiple forms of violence as rape, child marriage, domestic violence, and sex trafficking.

We’re grateful to key players, including Vice President Joe Biden, our new Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, Cathy Russell, and our key allies on Capitol Hill. We at Futures also take particular pride in the role that our board member, (former) Congressman Bill Delahunt played in guiding our strategy and building momentum on the Hill for this issue.

We continue to gain momentum for the International Violence Against Women Act in this Congress. Introduced in the House this past November, the legislation will soon be introduced by a bi-partisan slate in the Senate