Senator Menendez Cosponsors Resolution on Violence Against Women in Guatemala!

I just spoke with Senator Robert Menendez's office. Although it has not yet appeared on Thomas (the official legislative database on the web), he has signed on as a cosponsor to S Res 178, the resolution condemning the epidemic of gender based violence in Guatemala and calling upon the Guatemalan governemnt to take serious action to protect women and girls!

Amnesty International greatly appreciate's Senator Menendez's support for this important meassure. Thanks also to everyone who contacted his office about this issue!

I will let you know when I hear something from Senator Frank Lautenberg's office.

Urge Senators Lautenberg & Menendez to Support Ratification of the Treaty for the Rights of Women

As I mentioned last month, Amnesty is organizing a week of visits to Senate offices across the country during the week of September 24 to urge them to support ratification of the Convention on All Forms of Descrimination Against Women (CEDAW--the Treaty for Women's Rights).

Unfortunately, the United States is one of the few countries that has not yet ratified this important instrument for protecting women's rights. It's time we finally did so! It would be especially great if you could volunteer to organize a meeting with one of the in-state offices of Senator Lautenberg (Newark or Camden) and/or Senator Menendez (Newark or Barrington). Amensty will provide training and materials to make your visit a success. And I would be happy to help out too!

Click here to volunteer to organize a delegation!

Article on Gender-Based Violence in Guatemala

As you know, Amnesty is urging the Senate to support S Res 178 on the epidemic of violence against women in Guatemala. You might want to check out Michael Parenti and Lucia Muñoz's article Gender Savagery in Guatemala on the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) website. (This is not an Amnesty International document)

Once again, please contact the offices of Senator Lautenburg and Senator Menendez about this important issue!

Support Senate Resolution on Violence Against Women in Guatemala!

This spring, activists from Amnesty International and other groups helped secure passage of H Res 100, a House resolution condemning the epidemic of violence against women in Guatemala and urging the Guatemalan government to take serious measures to protect women and girls.

Senator Bingaman (D-NM) has recently introduced a similar measure, S Res 178. Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and make the following points:

1. Over 2,500 women and girls have been murdered in Guatemala since 2001.
2. Many of them were also the victims of sexual violence.
3. Few cases have been investigated, and even fewer have bee brought to trial. Only a handful of cases have resulted in the conviction of the killers.
4. Please cosponsor Senator Binghamton’s S Res 178 to send a strong message to Guatemalan government that the U.S. Senate and its constituents value women’s lives and want to see justice done in these murders.
   

There is also an online action available.