In preparation for President Obama’s trip to Saudi Arabia, NOW–along with several other non-profits–signed onto a Congressional letter urging our president to confront the Kingdom’s human rights abuses, which include “violations targeting women.”
In the U.S. and around the globe, women continue to be targets of sexual and domestic violence. Women are discriminated against in the workplace, and disproportionately suffer from poverty, less access to health care, less access to a livable wage, and barriers to higher education.
In many cases immigrant women are more hesitant to report incidents of harassment because the perpetrator holds a position of power and may threaten to fire them or call immigration if they seek help. Undocumented women in abusive relationships often face similar barriers to reporting acts of violence. A partner may discourage the woman from leaving the relationship using the threat of deportation or separation from their children.
On International Women’s Day, NOW calls upon leaders in the US to firmly reject the austerity model that has been economically devastating to our sisters in Europe. Call it what you like — austerity, sequester, deficit reduction, balancing the budget. I call it a stealth attack on women.
Today, women and men around the world are rising and dancing to end violence against women and girls. NOW is a proud partner in the One Billion Rising actions organized by Vagina Monologues author and global activist Eve Ensler. NOW leaders and supporters are taking part in actions across the country.