Letter to the President: End Violence Against Women

March 25, 2011

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:
As communities of faith, we are grateful for your ongoing leadership on internationally recognized human rights, and, in particular, your commitment to women and girls around the world who experience abuse and violence in their lives.

We have a continuing, deep concern about the plight of women and girls around the world who suffer acts of violence every day. As people of faith we write to demonstrate our support for your Administration to create and implement a strategic and comprehensive initiative to combat violence against women and girls globally that not only addresses violence in conflict and post-conflict settings but also more systematically throughout the developing world.

One out of every three women worldwide will be physically, sexually or otherwise abused during her lifetime, with rates reaching 70 percent in some countries. This type of violence threatens the lives of millions of women and girls, is often devastating to their mental health, and impedes their ability to provide for their families and contribute to the economic development of their countries.

We believe that efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls should be a top priority in U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance programs. Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, a public health epidemic and a barrier to addressing conflict, extreme poverty, HIV and AIDS. To help end it, the U.S. must exercise strong international leadership and provide dedicated resources to address the problem in a comprehensive fashion, in partnership and coordination with other donor entities, country governments and, in particular, with women’s communitybased organizations.

We affirm that gender equality is a prerequisite to sustainable global development, and agree on the need to collaborate to build the spiritual and political will necessary to empower women and girls. Our support of the Administration to launch a holistic initiative to end violence against women and girls in the developing world is a first step towards that goal.

Ending violence against women and girls is a long-term effort. This Administration's leadership thus far signals to us and the world that we now have the best opportunity in decades to make large-scale progress. Our communities stand in support of the Administration to help turn the tide on this most pernicious of global challenges. Creating futures without violence for all is a legacy of which we all can be proud.

Yours sincerely,

Africa Faith and Justice Network
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
American Islamic Congress
American Jewish World Service
Anglican Women's Empowerment
Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty Church Women United
Church World Service
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Global Justice Institute
Global Ministries of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ
Islamic Society of North America
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Women International
Justice & Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Lutheran World Relief
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office
Metropolitan Community Churches
Mission Life Center
Muslim Women's Coalition
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Churches, USA
National Council of Catholic Women
National Council of Jewish Women
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Office of Public Witness
Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Institute Justice Team
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church & Society
United Methodist Women
United Religions Initiative
Women of Reform Judaism

cc: The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State
The HonorableValerie B. Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement