U.S. Efforts to Address Global Violence Against Women

U.S. Efforts to Address Global Violence Against Women

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July 30, 2014
U.S. Efforts to Address Global Violence Against Women

Overview
Violence against women is a key area of concern in many

humanitarian crises, armed conflict, and post-conflict
During the past two decades, U.S. policymakers, as well as
situations, where women and girls are often particularly
many in the international community, have increasingly
vulnerable. Many experts agree that current levels of
recognized violence against women (VAW) as a significant
violence reported through studies and law enforcement
global health, human rights, and security issue.1 Violence
records underrepresent the number of actual cases.
against women, which includes random acts of violence as
Incidents are often not reported because of the shame
well as sustained abuse over time, can be physical,
associated with being a victim, fear of reprisal, or lack of
psychological, or sexual in nature. Many experts view it as
adequate law enforcement infrastructure.
a symptom of the historically unequal power relationship

between men and women and maintain that over time this
International efforts to address violence against women are
imbalance has led to pervasive cultural stereotypes and
wide-ranging. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
attitudes that perpetuate a cycle of violence.
other governments, and international organizations such as
There are many different types of violence perpetrated
the United Nations system implement large and small-scale
against women, for example:
anti-VAW activities. International mechanisms, including
the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women and the
Intimate partner violence, one of the most common forms,
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
can include forced sex, physical violence, and
Discrimination Against Women, have also sought to
psychological abuse, such as isolation from family and
address the issue.
friends.
Administration Initiatives
Honor killings can involve cases when women are stoned,
burned, or beaten to death, often by their own family
President Obama and past Presidents have generally
members, in order to preserve the family honor.
supported efforts to combat global violence against
women—often as components of broader foreign aid
Dowry-related violence can arise when victims are attacked
initiatives. Key implementing agencies and offices include:
or killed by in-laws for not bringing a large enough dowry
• the Department of State, including the Office of
to the marriage.
Global Women’s Issues, and
Female genital cutting (FGC), a procedure that
• the U.S. Agency for International Development
intentionally alters female genital organs for non-medical
(USAID), including the Office of Gender Equality
reasons, is a continued problem in some African and
and Women’s Empowerment.
Middle Eastern countries.
The Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services,
Violence against women occurs in all geographic regions,
Homeland Security, Justice, and Labor also support global
countries, cultures, and economic classes, although some
anti-VAW activities.
studies have found that women in developing countries
experience higher rates of violence than those in developed
“[Gender-based] violence ... significantly hinders the
countries. A 2013 World Health Organization (WHO)
ability of individuals to fully participate in and
review of global data found that 35% of women worldwide
contribute to their families and communities –
have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner
economically, politically, and socially.” U.S. Strategy to
violence or non-partner sexual violence.2
Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence Globally,

August 2012
1 The term “violence against women” is often used synonymously
with “gender-based violence” (GBV). Violence against women
The Obama Administration has expressed its commitment
describes violence against women and girls, while “gender-based
to incorporating anti-VAW efforts into all aspects of U.S.
violence” describes violence against an individual, regardless of
foreign policy. In August 2012, President Obama issued an
sex, because of his or her gender.
executive order to launch the multi-year U.S. Strategy to
2 UN Women, “Facts and Figures: Ending Violence Against
Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally.
Women,” and WHO, Global and Regional Estimates of Violence
The Strategy calls on agencies to integrate prevention and
against Women, 2013.
response into current programs; improve data collection and
analysis; and enhance existing government programs that

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U.S. Efforts to Address Global Violence Against Women
address the issue. It also establishes an interagency working
Violence Globally into U.S. foreign policy; coordination
group led by State and USAID to coordinate U.S. efforts
among participating agencies and departments; and any
worldwide. The Strategy is meant to build on existing U.S.
challenges or lessons learned that could arise during the
efforts to combat violence against women and to
course of implementation.
complement related Administration policies such as the
U.S. National Action Plan on Peace and Security and State
International cooperation. NGOs, international
Department and USAID policies on gender equality and
organizations, and other entities support a range of
women’s empowerment.
activities addressing violence against women worldwide.
Some experts contend that providing financial support to
Congressional Actions
organizations that address the issue is a particularly
effective use of U.S. resources because it allows the United
For more than two decades, Congress has demonstrated an
States to share costs and other burdens with others.
ongoing interest in addressing international violence against
Opponents argue that United States should focus on its own
women. It has passed legislation addressing specific types,
initiatives, and emphasize that international activities may
such as human trafficking and FGC, and has adopted
not always align with U.S. priorities.
legislation addressing violence against women in different
regions and countries. In some cases, Congress has
Lack of comparable data. Existing research offers little
incorporated anti-VAW components into legislation and
in the way of comparative data. Many researchers use
programs addressing international HIV prevention and
different sampling techniques, methodologies, and criteria
foreign military and law enforcement training. Members
for defining violence against women and conducting
have also considered various iterations of the International
surveys—which may lead to inconsistent and varied
Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) in recent
findings on the scope of the problem and impact of
Congresses, which have aimed to coordinate and provide
programs to combat violence against women.
additional funding for U.S. efforts to address the issue.
Versions of IVAWA introduced during the 113th Congress
Infrastructure and priorities at the country level.
(H.R. 3571 and S. 2307) would, among other things, codify
Some governments, particularly those of developing
current State Department and USAID offices and positions
countries, may lack the political, legislative, and financial
addressing global women’s issues.
infrastructures to establish and implement policies and
programs to eliminate violence against women. This may
U.S. Funding
be a challenge to donors who aim to distribute anti-VAW
funding and resources in the most effective manner.
In 2012, the Obama Administration reported that based on
prior year classifications, U.S. spending on gender-based
Evaluation and assessment. Hundreds of global anti-
violence (GBV) programming totaled about $92 million
VAW programs are implemented annually, but few of these
annually over the previous four years. However, this
programs are evaluated for effectiveness. Many activities
estimate did not include some related activities under the
are short in duration and have small budgets, which may
Global Health Initiative and the Global Food Security
leave little time and financial resources for evaluations.
Initiative (Feed the Future), among others. Generally, it is
Consequently, U.S. policymakers might have difficulty
difficult to determine the full scope of funding for U.S.
gauging a program’s effectiveness and thus may reduce
programs and activities that, either in whole or in part,
resources to programs that cannot demonstrate impact.
address international violence against women. While some
activities specifically focus on violence against women,
Current and emerging issues. Some current and
others address the issue in the context of broader U.S.
emerging areas in research, prevention, and treatment
foreign assistance matters such as health care, crime, human
include:
rights, economic development, security training, education,

•
and other areas.
Links to discrimination. Many experts increasingly view
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
Funding and further integration of U.S. activities.
causes and impacts of female discrimination.
Some experts and policymakers maintain that, in addition to

•
receiving attention as a stand-alone global health and
Role of men and boys. Research on violence against
human rights issue, anti-VAW efforts should be a fully
women has evolved to include not only treatment and
integrated component of broader U.S. foreign assistance
prevalence but also root causes. As a result, many experts
efforts—including health services, development, human
and policymakers have increasingly focused on the role of
rights, foreign military training and law enforcement
men and boys in preventing violence against 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 women,
adequately coordinate government-wide efforts and fund
particularly sexual violence in conflict situations, may be
current and future U.S. anti-VAW activities.
linked to national and international security and stability.

Implementation of the U.S. strategy. Members of
Luisa Blanchfield, lblanchfield@crs.loc.gov, 7-0856
Congress may consider monitoring efforts to incorporate
the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based
IF00043
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Document Outline

Overview

Administration Initiatives