I-VAWA is critical for world peace

Since women are the mothers of every person, since women have been oppressed for nearly three thousand years, since women are smaller and less likely to have extreme physical strength, this is a critical need, for the IVAWA to be passed -- for governments across the world to assert together, that enough is more than enough, and all governments will prosecute strongly against violence against women. Men across the world have gotten away with overpowering, oppressing, and emotionally and physically abusing the women in their lives for millenia, and now that we are a global community we are finally positioned for justice systems, backed by their governments and international affiliations, to stand together and finally end violence against women.

Every human is negatively affected when a woman is oppressed or injured, emotionally or physically, because the children, and youths for whom the woman is responsible, feel the injury directly and personally. The assault is on the spirits of all the children in places where people commit violence against the women.

The numbers of assaulted women is far greater than people imagine and greater than we are usually willing to admit. Violence occurs against nearly one third of women, even in the United States. This is not a new epidemic, but because it has been denied and kept secret, people are even now reluctant to discuss it and admit its prevalence.

Passing IVAWA is a starting point for peacefulness around the world, because once children grow up knowing that violence against women is unacceptable, so they will shape communities and nations with this assumption of respect for all living beings, including and especially the weaker physically, the less politically and socially empowered, and the less able to defend themselves.

Secretary Clinton and President Obama, I know you know the critical importance of passing IVAWA. I trust that you will do all you can to make this happen. Thank you very much!

Anna Sontag, Eugene Oregon, USA