ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN
AND GIRLS

The fifth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals is achieve gender equality and
empower all women and girls. All forms of discrimination against all women and girls
must end as well as violence against them in public and private spheres, including
trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. Harmful practices, such as
child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilations must be stopped.

We must ensure that women have full and effective participation and equal
opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic,
and public life.

CONGRESS INTRODUCES THE INTERNATIONAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (IVAWA)

It is thought that one in three women globally will face physical, mental or sexual abuse in their lifetimes. Plus, those who commit these crimes can walk away without consequences. This is unbelievable and must be stopped! You can help.

Our U.S. Congress has introduced the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). This bill is bipartisan legislation with the power to end this horrible violence, and is cosponsored by Senators Shaheen, Collins, Isakson and Menendez. This is our best chance to end violence against women worldwide, but we must act in support of the IVAWA.

Will you send a message to your member of Congress and urge him/her to support and pass IVAWA? Now is our chance to make a real difference in women's lives around the globe. You might site some statistics like: Nearly 39,000 girls are married off each day, and female genital cutting has impacted more than 200 million women and girls. As the refugee crisis grows, women and girls are even more likely to experience physical and sexual violence. It's never ending!

Please tell Congress: Support and pass IVAWA, and bring an end to gender-based violence for all women around the globe.

Thanks for getting involved in this very important issue.

 

HONOUR KILLINGS IN PAKISTAN

More than a thousand women are murdered annually in Pakistan in what are called
"honour" killings. An example of such a killing is a women who goes against her
family with regard to marrying who they have chosen for her. Now for the first time,
the Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has said he will stop this crime in his
country.

Will you help to build a large global call to protect women from honour killings? If so,
Avaaz.org is delivering our voices directly to the Prime Minister and the Parliament in
Islamabad. You can sign below:

Stop honour killings and click on frame link

In 2015, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the number of honour
killings jumped by 15%. It is said that these killings occur somewhere in the world
every 90 minutes.

Please take action today. SISTERS ONLINE thanks you!

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