RADAR ALERT:
Stop I-VAWA Now!

The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA - HR 5927) has recently been introduced in the U.S House of Representatives (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h5927ih.txt.pdf).

I-VAWA is intended to export America's failed VAWA program, which credible scientific researchers and advocates say needs substantial reform. Statistical claims contained in I-VAWA statement of findings were taken directly from a U.N. Secretary General report that was not accepted by the U.N. Third Committee. For example, I-VAWA falsely claims that approximately one in three of the women in the world will experience violence in her lifetime, with rates of up to 70 percent in some countries; and that one in five of the women in the world will be the victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. Credible science shows that the international statistics are far lower.

I-VAWA would:

1. Harm families around the world by promoting American rates of divorce and single parent homes.
2. Impose radical cultural imperialism by coercing other countries to adopt harmful programs that have nothing to do with domestic violence. Gender-based programs redefining marriage, gender, birthright, parenting, and family are the core policies contained in I-VAWA.
3. Create a new federal 'super-agency' that would control many aspects of U.S. military and foreign policy.
4. Promote failed economic programs such as "comparable worth" where wages are decided by unelected government cronies.
5. Impose absurd diagnoses on problems. For example, under I-VAWA acts of war are re-defined as domestic violence in order to divert $175 million of taxpayer money annually to ideologically-driven organizations that obviously have no capability to prevent wartime atrocities – organizations such as Legal Momentum (N.O.W.'s Legal Defense Fund).

To help RADAR stop I-VAWA, please contact your House Congressional Representative and urge opposition of I-VAWA (bill number H.R. 5927). You can quickly find the telephone, fax, and email contact information for your Representative at http://www.house.gov and entering your zip code in the upper left corner. In your communications, please be polite and courteous, while expressing the great importance of rejecting I-VAWA.

For more information and a faxable document you can use to voice your opinion, please refer to RADAR's flyer located at http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/RADARflyer-CEDAW-and-IVAWA.pdf.

Date of RADAR Release: May 27, 2008

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R.A.D.A.R. – Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting – is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of men and women working to improve the effectiveness of our nation's approach to solving domestic violence. http://www.mediaradar.org