Global Rights for Women in Washington, DC
By Melissa Scaia, Director of International Training
Global Rights for Women Director of International Training, Melissa Scaia, Washington DC based board member Lynn Schubert, and volunteer Rebecca Bentzinger met with Minnesota Congressman Pete Stauber in his office in Washington, DC on January 11, 2019. Congressman Stauber expressed support for GRW’s mission to promote women’s human right to be free from violence. We focused on the immediate need for reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and sought Congressman Stauber’s support this reauthorization. VAWA was originally enacted in 1994 and provides support to groups that work on issues relating to sexual assault, and domestic violence and prevention.
From left to right: GRW Board Member Lynn Schubert, GRW Volunteer Becky Bentzinger, Representative Pete Stauber, and GRW Director of International Training Melissa Scaia
GRW commends Congressmen Stauber for donating his salary during the government shutdown to our partner agency in Duluth Minnesota, Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs. As a former law enforcement officer in Duluth for over 20 years, Congressman Stauber is committed to the role of police in enforcing women’s human right to be free from violence. He is proud of his work as part of the Duluth Model of Coordinated Community Response as a successful method of enforcing women’s rights.
We also talked with Congressman Stauber about the need for a multi-faceted approach to immigration that recognizes its root causes. Legislation and funding is needed to bring the expertise of Minnesota organizations such as GRW to Central America to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence and sexual assault – which are driving forces of immigration.
Our Vision
Global Rights for Women is a leading voice in the global movement to end violence against women and girls. GRW builds international partnerships that advance laws, values, and practices to create communities where all women and girls live free from violence and threats of violence. In times of greater resistance to human rights from regressive forces, GRW makes an uncompromising commitment to the universal acceptance of women and girls’ human right to be free from violence.
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