FCNL Joins Coalition Urging Congress to Support Funding for Afghan Women & Girls

Jun 2, 2009

FCNL joined a coalition of 25 national organizations led by Feminist Majority and Peace Action to urge Congress to support funding in the supplemental that will go directly to Afghan organizations supporting Afghan women and girls. The House and Senate version of the supplemental approved an amendment requiring that $100 million be made available to support programs that directly address the needs of Afghan women and girls. These funds will contribute to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs, and for women-led nongovernmental organizations.

The differences between the House & Senate versions will be reconciled in a conference committee. Check back on this page in the upcoming weeks to confirm that in the final verion of the supplemental $100 million was included .

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May 20, 2009

Dear Member of Congress:

Afghan women desperately need our help. As you consider the FY09 supplemental funding bill, aid for critically needed educational, occupational and health programs for Afghan women and girls must be included.

We urge you to include funding in the supplemental funding bill that will go directly to Afghan women-led non-profit organizations providing programs for Afghan women and girls, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Women's Affairs.

We also urge you to cosponsor the Afghan Women Empowerment Act (S229/HR2214), legislation that will help strengthen and empower women and girls in Afghanistan by providing critical resources to non-governmental organizations that work to promote literacy, job training programs and health care services.

The Afghan Women Empowerment Act will specifically focus on providing services directly to Afghan women such as adult literacy education, technical and vocational training and health care services, including mental health treatment. It also provides assistance to especially vulnerable populations, including widows and orphans.

Afghan women need our help. They have shown over and over again that they are willing to risk their lives for education, health care, and basic human rights. Please lend your support to them.


Sincerely,

3D Security Initiative
Afghanistan Advocacy Group
Alliance of Faith and Feminism
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Commonwell International, Inc.
Equality Now
Feminist Majority
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Institute for Policy Studies
Just Foreign Policy
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH)
National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)
National Council of Women's Organizations (NCWO)
National Organization for Women (NOW)
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Peace Action (formerly SANE/Freeze)
TrueMajority.org/USAction
Turning Anger into Change
United Methodist General Board of Church and Society
Veteran Feminists of America
Women's Action for New Directions (WAND)
Women's Environment Development Organization (WEDO)
Women's Research and Education Institute (WREI)