Happy Spring! Here are IANGEL’s latest news and updates:
Statement in Solidarity with the AAPI Community
As an international organization dedicated to gender equity and justice, IANGEL condemns harassment and violence against Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), as well as harassment and violence against women. We will continue to fight against hate, misogyny and violence and stand in solidarity with the AAPI community against racism. Read our full statement about our commitment to promoting gender and racial justice locally, nationally and globally here.
Pro Bono Power – Using Global Legal Networks to Advance Equality: CSW 65 Parallel Event
On March 16th, we hosted a virtual event in conjunction with UN Women’s CSW65. Our panel of international feminist advocates discussed the role that pro bono lawyers play in assisting change agents around the world. The Commission on the Status of Women, typically held at UN headquarters in New York City, went entirely virtual this year, allowing feminists from around the globe to join or view our parallel event. Our panelists shared some of the key human rights challenges to achieving gender equality that they, or their organizations have faced, and how those obstacles have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly for those in the legal profession.
Call for Nominations: IANGEL’s Rights and Leadership Award
IANGEL is accepting nominations for its Amel Zenoune-Zouani Rights & Leadership Award which will be presented at this year’s Gala. The Rights and Leadership Award honors an exemplary leader promoting women’s rights and gender equality. Honorees receiving this award exhibit courage in overcoming injustice, open doors for women to opportunities that have been historically closed to them, and use advocacy and the rule of law to achieve their goals. Visit our Call for Nominations page for more information about the award and how to submit your nominees. Deadline is May 15th, 2021!
A look at the recent debate surrounding child marriage in India
Child marriages in India are fairly common. The Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused significant economic hardship, has only worsened this situation. Before the pandemic hit, child marriages in India often involved 16 to 17 years old; now girls as young as 12 are becoming child brides. India is considering raising the legal age of marriage for girls to 21. Read our blogpost about this debate and how child, early and forced marriage in India ties into IANGEL’s Girls’ Rights Research Project. This project aims to develop a set of specific guidelines that will inform efforts to expand girls’ rights related to sexual and reproductive health and bodily autonomy, tackling the issues of child marriage, female genital mutilation and reproductive freedom. Learn more here.
Advocacy Updates
- Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act
- We recently endorsed the Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act, which would remove the Helms Amendment from the Foreign Assistance Act and instead include language stating that U.S. funding will be used to provide comprehensive reproductive health care services, including the provision of abortion services, training, and equipment.
- Girls LEAD Act
- The Girls Leadership, Engagement, Agency and Development (LEAD) Act is a bipartisan policy initiative that promotes girls’ leadership and participation in civic and political processes through U.S. foreign assistance. If passed, this legislation would enact reforms across USAID and the State Department to ensure that girls receive the support they need to meaningfully engage in civic and political processes in their communities. We have officially endorsed the Girls LEAD Act and are part of the working group advocating for the initiative.
- FY2022 House State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs appropriations request letter
- We signed a letter asking for increased funding for international family planning and reproductive health programs, and to address policies that limit the effectiveness of these programs, in the upcoming State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs FY 2022 Appropriations bill.
- Global Health, Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act
- IANGEL has advocated for a more permanent end to the Global Gag Rule, a policy barring NGOs that receive U.S. global health assistance from providing legal abortion services or support. In our work to end this harmful policy which has been subject to swings in presidential power from one administration to the next, we have formally endorsed this Act, to effectively repeal the global gag rule through legislative action.
- Safe from the Start Act
- IANGEL supports passing the Safe From the Start Act, which directs the Department of State to employ a gender-based response when addressing humanitarian crises in a manner that aims to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) at the onset of an emergency.
- Letter to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President
- We signed on to a letter addressed to President Biden’s Office of Management and Budget to protect and increase investments for gender equality-related programs, including those aimed at ending gender-based violence (GBV), improving women’s economic empowerment, engaging women in the peace & security agenda, and adolescent girls’ empowerment.
- Support Funding for UNFPA Act
- We are also supporting a bill that will authorize additional U.S. funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), an agency of the UN focused on improving reproductive and maternal health around the world. The bill will increase funding for programming addressing gender-based violence, such as providing health services in humanitarian crises.
This is only the beginning. With your support, we can continue to fight for gender justice for everyone, everywhere.
You can make a difference for gender justice everywhere! Check out our Advocacy page and subscribe to our Advocacy Newsletter for more ways to get involved.