Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) applauded last night’s overwhelming passage of the Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act (HR 5273) in the House of Representatives. The bill mandates the development of a long-term, government-wide strategy to address fragility and violence in select countries. The bill strengthens American capacity to address the root causes of violence, which are taking an increasingly harsh economic and human toll.
Contact: Tim McHugh, Friends Committee on National Legislation, media@fcnl.org; 202-903-2515
“Violent conflict is the main cause of human suffering today, trapping millions of civilians in crisis and uprooting upwards of 66 million people from their homes,” said Diane Randall, FCNL’s Executive Secretary. “Rather than wait until injustice flares into conflict and crisis, we must heed warning signs and take early action to address grievances and find common solutions. The United States must make peacebuilding a central element of both its foreign policy and foreign aid.”
Unparalleled global violence is undercutting stability, reversing development gains, and spurring a global migration crisis not seen since World War II. For the first time in human history, violence has surpassed natural disasters as the main driver behind forced displacement of people. It also requires the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development to establish clear, transparent, and measurable benchmarks on progress which must be reported to Congress every two years.
“The world is currently experiencing a 25-year peak in violence, resulting in the forced displacement of millions and generating 80 percent of current humanitarian need,” said FCNL’s Legislative Secretary for Peacebuilding Policy Theo Sitther. “The United States must act to peacefully reduce and prevent violent conflict. It is now up to the Senate to get this all-important job done.”
To learn more, please visit www.fcnl.org.
