International Women's Day and the International Violence Against Women Act by Sofia Van Raan, UNICEF
Today is International Women's Day, and I've been thinking about the women and girls facing one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. They're Rohingya refugees who have fled ethnic cleansing in Myanmar, only to arrive in packed refugee camps where they can be vulnerable to sexual violence and abuse.
Girls like twelve-year-old Januba have even stopped attending school because of how dangerous it is to leave her family's makeshift shelter. Other girls live in constant fear of being attacked, exploited or forced into marriage.
This is the reality for far too many girls around the world, and you can help change that by supporting the International Violence Against Women Act. The bipartisan legislation would make sure that ending violence against women and girls is a priority of U.S. foreign policy. In honor of International Women's Day, tell your Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor the bill.
Thank you for taking a stand for women and girls,
Sofia Van Raan
UNICEF USA