July 30, 2015
U.S. Efforts to Address Global Violence Against Women
Overview
International efforts to address violence against women are
wide-ranging. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
During the past two decades, U.S. policymakers, as well as
other governments, and international organizations such as
many in the international community, have increasingly
the United Nations system implement large and small-scale
recognized violence against women (VAW, also referred to
anti-VAW activities. International mechanisms, including
as gender-based violence) as a significant global health,
the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women and the
human rights, and security issue. Violence against women,
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
which includes random acts of violence as well as sustained
Discrimination Against Women, have also sought to
abuse over time, can be physical, psychological, or sexual
address the issue.
in nature. Many experts view it as a symptom of the
historically unequal power relationship between men and
Administration Initiatives
women and maintain that over time this imbalance has led
to pervasive cultural stereotypes and attitudes that
President Obama and past Presidents have generally
perpetuate a cycle of violence.
supported efforts to combat global violence against
women—often as components of broader foreign aid
There are many different types of violence perpetrated
initiatives. Key implementing agencies and offices include:
against women, for example:
• the Department of State, including the Office of Global
Women’s Issues, and
Intimate partner violence, one of the most common forms,
can include forced sex, physical violence, and
• the U.S. Agency for International Development
psychological abuse, such as isolation from family and
(USAID), including the Office of Gender Equality and
friends.
Women’s Empowerment.
Honor killings can involve cases when women are stoned,
The Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services,
burned, or beaten to death, often by their own family
Homeland Security, Justice, and Labor also support global
members, in order to preserve the family honor.
anti-VAW activities.
Dowry-related violence can arise when victims are attacked
“[Gender-based] violence ... significantly hinders
or killed by in-laws for not bringing a large enough dowry
the ability of individuals to fully participate in and
to the marriage.
contribute to their families and communities –
economically, politically, and socially.” U.S. Strategy
Female genital cutting (FGC), a procedure that
to Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence
intentionally alters female genital organs for non-medical
Globally, August 2012
reasons, is a continued problem in some African and
Middle Eastern countries.
The Obama Administration has expressed its commitment
Violence against women occurs in all geographic regions,
to incorporating anti-VAW efforts into all aspects of U.S.
countries, cultures, and economic classes, although some
foreign policy. In August 2012, President Obama issued an
studies have found that women in developing countries
executive order to launch the multi-year U.S. Strategy to
experience higher rates of violence than those in developed
Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally.
countries. A 2013 World Health Organization (WHO)
The Strategy calls on agencies to integrate prevention and
review of global data found that 35% of women worldwide
response into current programs; improve data collection and
have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner
analysis; and enhance existing government programs that
violence or non-partner sexual violence.
address the issue. It also establishes an interagency working
group led by State and USAID to coordinate U.S. efforts
Violence against women is a key area of concern in many
worldwide. The Strategy is meant to build on existing U.S.
humanitarian crises, armed conflict, and post-conflict
efforts to combat violence against women and to
situations, where women and girls are often particularly
complement related Administration policies such as the
vulnerable. Many experts agree that current levels of
U.S. National Action Plan on Peace and Security and State
violence reported through studies and law enforcement
Department and USAID policies on gender equality and
records underrepresent the number of actual cases.
women’s empowerment.
Incidents are often not reported because of the shame
associated with being a victim, fear of reprisal, or lack of
adequate law enforcement infrastructure.
www.crs.gov | 7-5700

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U.S. Efforts to Address Global Violence Against Women
Congressional Actions
Some experts contend that providing financial support to
organizations that address the issue is a particularly
For more than two decades, Congress has demonstrated an
effective use of U.S. resources because it allows the United
ongoing interest in addressing international violence against
States to share costs and other burdens with others.
women. It has passed legislation addressing specific types,
Opponents argue that United States should focus on its own
such as human trafficking and FGC, and has adopted
initiatives, and emphasize that international activities may
legislation addressing violence against women in different
not always align with U.S. priorities.
regions and countries. In some cases, Congress has
incorporated anti-VAW components into legislation and
Lack of comparable data. Existing research offers little in
programs addressing international HIV prevention and
the way of comparative data. Many researchers use
foreign military and law enforcement training. Members
different sampling techniques, methodologies, and criteria
have also considered various iterations of the International
for defining violence against women and conducting
Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) in recent
surveys—which may lead to inconsistent and varied
Congresses, which have aimed to coordinate and provide
findings on the scope of the problem and impact of
additional funding for U.S. efforts to address the issue.
programs to combat violence against women.
Versions of IVAWA introduced during the 114th Congress
(H.R. 1340 and S. 713) would, among other things, codify
Infrastructure and priorities at the country level. Some
current State Department and USAID offices and positions
governments, particularly those of developing countries,
addressing global women’s issues.
may lack the political, legislative, and financial
infrastructures to establish and implement policies and
U.S. Funding
programs to eliminate violence against women. This may
be a challenge to donors who aim to distribute anti-VAW
In 2012, the Obama Administration reported that based on
funding and resources in the most effective manner.
prior year classifications, U.S. spending on gender-based
violence (GBV) programming totaled about $92 million
Evaluation and assessment. Hundreds of global anti-
annually over the previous four years. However, this
VAW programs are implemented annually, but few of these
estimate did not include some related activities under the
programs are evaluated for effectiveness. Many activities
Global Health Initiative and the Global Food Security
are short in duration and have small budgets, which may
Initiative (Feed the Future), among others. Generally, it is
leave little time and financial resources for evaluations.
difficult to determine the full scope of funding for U.S.
Consequently, U.S. policymakers might have difficulty
programs and activities that, either in whole or in part,
gauging a program’s effectiveness and thus may reduce
address international violence against women. While some
resources to programs that cannot demonstrate impact.
activities specifically focus on violence against women,
others address the issue in the context of broader U.S.
Current and emerging issues. Some key areas in research,
foreign assistance matters such as health care, crime, human
prevention, and treatment include:
rights, economic development, security training, and
• Links to discrimination. Many experts increasingly view
education
violence as a form of discrimination against women, and
Key Issues and Challenges
maintain that discrimination causes violence. To combat
the issue, they contend, equal attention should be paid to
the causes and impacts of female discrimination.
Funding and further integration of U.S. activities. Some
experts and policymakers maintain that, in addition to
• Role of men and boys. Research on violence against
receiving attention as a stand-alone global health and
women has evolved to include not only treatment and
human rights issue, anti-VAW efforts should be a fully
prevalence but also root causes. As a result, many
integrated component of broader U.S. foreign assistance
experts and policymakers have increasingly focused on
efforts—including health services, development, human
the role of men and boys in preventing violence against
rights, foreign military training and law enforcement
women.
training, humanitarian assistance, and legal and political
• Links to peace and security. Some experts have argued
reform. They argue that additional funding is needed to
that the problem of international violence against
adequately coordinate government-wide efforts and fund
current and future U.S. anti-VAW activities.
women, particularly sexual violence in conflict
situations, may be linked to national and international
security and stability.
Implementation of the U.S. strategy. Members of
Congress may consider monitoring efforts to incorporate
Luisa Blanchfield, lblanchfield@crs.loc.gov, 7-0856
the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based

Violence Globally into U.S. foreign policy; coordination
among participating agencies and departments; and any
IF10254
challenges or lessons learned that could arise during the
course of implementation.
International cooperation. NGOs, international
organizations, and other entities support a range of
activities addressing violence against women worldwide.
www.crs.gov | 7-5700

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