Support the Safe from the Start Act
People living through humanitarian crises, especially women and girls, face an increased risk of gender-based violence. An estimated 1 in 5 refugee or displaced women in humanitarian emergencies have experienced sexual violence. And gender-based violence is on the rise in many countries as communities around the world are forced to stay at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More must be done to prevent and address these abuses. Gender-based violence is not only an assault on human dignity, it also undermines development, security, and human rights.
Despite recognition of the negative impacts of gender-based violence in crises, humanitarian responses often do not address the unique risks facing women and girls. In fact, less than one percent of global humanitarian funding is spent on gender-based violence prevention and response.
The passage of the Safe from the Start Act will be an important step to change this dangerous tide. By formalizing and expanding Safe from the Start, a State Department and USAID program, the act prioritizes prevention and protection from gender-based violence. The legislation will ensure appropriate services for girls and women exposed to gender-based violence during crises, tools and structures for efficiency and accountability of responses, financial and institutional support for female-led Civil Society Organizations, and prioritization of local prevention and response efforts.
Please urge your Members of Congress to pass the bipartisan Safe from the Start Act (H.R. 4092) and the Keeping Women and Girls Safe from the Start Act (S. 4003) which will ensure that the U.S. government’s humanitarian assistance is more effective at preventing and responding to gender-based violence in crises.
Dear Member of Congress,
As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to support women and girls in humanitarian crises around the world by co-sponsoring the Safe from the Start Act (H.R. 4092).
Displaced persons, especially women and girls, face an increased risk of gender-based violence (GBV). An estimated 1 in 5 refugee or displaced women in complex humanitarian crises have experienced sexual violence. The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated this problem, as communities around the world are forced to stay at home to stop the spread of the disease. Lockdowns in many countries around the world have resulted in a surge of cases of domestic abuse. More must be done to prevent and address the rising levels of violence.
Despite recognition of the negative impacts of gender-based violence in crises, humanitarian responses often come up short in protecting women and girls. Indeed, less than one percent of global humanitarian funding is spent on GBV prevention and response.
The U.S. Government launched the Safe from the Start initiative with three aims: (1) increasing dedicated GBV interventions in emergencies, (2) integrating GBV risk mitigation across all humanitarian sectors, and (3) increasing accountability at the global level. Programs supported by the Safe from the Start initiative have focused on closing critical gaps in humanitarian responses.
The Safe from the Start Act will formalize and strengthen this program, helping humanitarian actors prevent gender-based violence, provide critical protections, and enable opportunities for women affected by gender-based violence to lead and make decisions that will help them and their communities react to and recover from crises. The act will ensure there are context-appropriate services for girls and women who experience gender-based violence during crises, create tools and structures for greater efficiency and accountability of response and recovery efforts, provide financial and institutional support for female-led civil society organizations, and prioritize local prevention and response efforts.
I sincerely hope that you will stand with displaced women and girls around the world and co-sponsor the Safe from the Start Act.
Sincerely,