Report from Lobby Day

The post-AGM lobby day went really well yesterday! Do to an oversight, the DC office had not arranged a meeting with Congressman Chris Smith’s office. As you probably know, Smith has been a very important leader on gender-based violence and human rights in general. It was therefore very important to contact him about the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) yesterday. I was therefore very excited to be able arrange a meeting first thing Monday morning. A senior staff member even decided to take part!

Unfortunately, however, I wound up missing the meeting that Amnesty’s staff had scheduled with Congressman LoBiondo’s office. Two volunteers from the lobbying training sessions at the AGM were able to be there, though, and I have heard that the meeting went well. I also made a point of going to the office to apologize in person for not being able to attend.

I also had meetings with the offices of Albio Sires and Rush Holt. In general, all three of the offices that I met with were very positive about IVAWA and the congressional letter regarding the rape of Barbara Italia Mendez by Mexican police agents. Naturally, Smith’s office wants to make sure that IVAWA does not promote abortion. I told the Smith staff members I met with that Amnesty had made sure that the legislation does not deal with this issue. Understandably, however, they need to read the text of the bill once it is introduced.

The offices were also very interested in the northeast region’s special focus case, Fathi el-Jahmi of Libya.

It looks like our next big legislative push will be to press for closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. We are going to arrange some district meetings during the congressional recess in early July. This will be a great opportunity to actually meet with our representatives themselves! Please keep an eye out for further details. It would be great if student groups could try to stay in contact about this after classes end. Students can also check http://njailegaction.blogspot.com for more information!

Support Lobby Day (even if you can’t stay in DC Monday!)

As you know, Amnesty International is planning a day of lobbying in support of women’s rights following this weekend’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Washington, DC. Activists from across the country will be meeting with their congressional offices to ask them to sign a letter to the Mexican government calling for justice in the case of Bárbara Italia Méndez. Ms. Méndez was one of several women arrested, beaten, and raped by Mexican police following a demonstration in San Salvador Atenco in 2006. We will also ask our representatives to be prepared to support the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) when it is introduced in the near future. This legislation would seek to coordinate and improve U.S. efforts to protect women and girls against violence through various foreign policy programs.

If you are staying to lobby on Monday, I look forward to working with you! Even if you can’t stay (or can’t attend the AGM), however, you can still support these efforts. Call your Congressman’s office and urge him to sign the letter on Ms. Méndez that is being circulated by Representative Hilda Solis. Be sure to mention that you also want him to support the International Violence Against Women Act when it is introduced!

(You can find the name and contact information for your Congressman by entering your zip code at http://www.house.gov/).

You can also take part in an online action regarding Ms. Méndez’s case. It calls Members of Congress to make sure that safeguards are put into police/military assistance to Mexico and Central America to prevent further abuses.

Thanks,
Larry Ladutke
NJ Legislative Coordinator, AIUSA