IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 519 

Supporting the ideals and goals of the ‘‘International Day for the Elimination 

of Violence against Women’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 5, 2015 

Mr. HONDA (for himself, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. CARSON of 

Indiana, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LEE, Mrs. 

NAPOLITANO, Ms. SPEIER, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. LARSEN of 

Washington, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. MOORE, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. SMITH of 

Washington, Mr. KEATING, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mrs. 

LAWRENCE, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. 

BROWNLEY of California, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. GARAMENDI, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. NORTON, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Ms. BORDALLO, Mrs. BUSTOS, Mr. 

PETERS, Ms. EDWARDS, Mr. POCAN, Mr. SABLAN, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, 

Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. YOUNG

of Alaska, and Mr. SCOTT of Virginia) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 

to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the ideals and goals of the ‘‘International Day 

for the Elimination of Violence against Women’’. 

Whereas November 25, 2015, is recognized as the ‘‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against 

Women’’; 


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•HRES 519 IH 

Whereas violence against women and girls, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence, are major public health issues and violations of human rights; 

Whereas recent global prevalence figures indicate that 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in 

their lifetime; 

Whereas humanitarian response in previous emergencies has 

shown that gender-based violence (GBV), particularly 

sexual violence, increases in the immediate aftermath of 

an emergency, in addition to sexual exploitation and 

abuse, human trafficking, forced prostitution, and forced 

marriage, and must therefore be prioritized at the onset 

of the response; 

Whereas on average, 1 in 3 women who have been in a relationship report they have experienced some form of physical, sexual, or other form of violence by their intimate 

partner; 

Whereas 120,000,000 girls worldwide have experienced sexual 

assault at some point in their lives; 

Whereas women and girls are disproportionately impacted by 

natural disasters and displacement settings exacerbate 

preexisting inequalities, render women and girls even 

more vulnerable, and create greater barriers in their ability to benefit from relief, recovery, and long-term reconstruction and development efforts; 

Whereas violence against women and girls can result in physical, mental, sexual, reproductive, and other health issues, 

and may increase vulnerability to HIV; 

Whereas more often than not, cases of violence against 

women and girls goes unreported; 


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•HRES 519 IH 

Whereas worldwide, as many as 38 percent of all murders of 

women are committed by an intimate partner; 

Whereas more than 133,000,000 girls and women have experienced some form of female genital mutilation and are 

at risk for infection (including HIV), infertility, complications during pregnancy, and death; 

Whereas women in urban areas are twice as likely as men to 

experience violence, particularly in developing countries; 

Whereas in the United States, 83 percent of girls in grades 

8 through 11 (aged 12–16) have experienced some form 

of sexual harassment in public school; 

Whereas in the United States, almost 12 percent of new HIV 

infections among women more than 20 years old during 

the previous year were attributed to intimate partner violence; 

Whereas in the United States, 1 in 5 women have experienced rape or attempted rape in their lifetime, mostly by 

a current or former partner; 

Whereas women living in households with lower annual 

household incomes experience intimate partner violence at 

significantly higher rates than women in households with 

higher annual household incomes; 

Whereas women with disabilities are more likely to experience 

intimate partner violence and sexual violence than women 

who are able-bodied; 

Whereas transgender women are more likely to experience 

physical violence and discrimination within intimate partner violence, and more likely to experience intimate partner violence in public spaces; 


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•HRES 519 IH 

Whereas 44 percent of lesbian women and 61 percent of bisexual women experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime; 

Whereas in the United States alone, the costs of intimate 

partner violence exceed $5,800,000,000 each year, more 

than two-thirds of which are health care costs; and 

Whereas the people of the United States should be encouraged to support the goals and participate in the ‘‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against 

Women’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the ideals and goals of the ‘‘Inter3 national Day for the Elimination of Violence against 

4 Women’’; 

5 (2) honors those working domestically and 

6 internationally to eliminate violence against women 

7 and girls; and 

8 (3) encourages the President to— 

9 (A) address the needs of women and girls 

10 experiencing violence worldwide through fund11 ing for inclusive, integrated, participatory sur12 vivor-led programs; 

13 (B) prioritize protections for women and 

14 children in fragile and conflict zones and in hu15 manitarian response; 

16 (C) address increased rates of violence 

17 against marginalized women due to race, ethVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:25 Nov 05, 2015 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR519.IH HR519

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•HRES 519 IH 

1 nicity, gender and sexual identity, and socio2 economic status; 

3 (D) increase women’s and girls’ opportuni4 ties worldwide including opportunities for qual5 ity education and economic participation; 

6 (E) integrate the priorities and solutions of 

7 women and girls living in poverty in the preven8 tion and response to sexual violence; and 

9 (F) issue a proclamation to the people of 

10 the United States to observe the ‘‘International 

11 Day for the Elimination of Violence against 

12 Women’’. 

Æ 


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