SOCIAL ACTION
Linda Paulson, Mission Coordinator for Social Action
763-780-8224
paulson1142@msn.com tcumwaction@aol.com
The Sojourner's site has been updated and inmproved. It is a good resource to consult about church perspectives on social justice, and can be subscribed to in order to receive ongoing information through this means.
The MN Council of Churches Refugee Services offers assistance to persecuted people who come to Minnesota as refugees. The MN UMC Conference is a key member of the MN Council of Churches and we are also the local affiliate for UMCOR’s work with refugees. We work with persecuted people who come by invitation of the US Government to start new lives in the United States and offer a range of educational and ministry opportunities to local congregations to learn more about and assist new refugees. Although refugees arrive filled with hope and possess vast life experience, they arrive with very few material belongings with which to begin life in the United States.
As part of our efforts to warmly welcome new arrivals to Minnesota, we set up apartments for new families before their arrival, but we need help to do so! Attached is a list of supplies needed to supply a family of five with what they need to start life in Minnesota. UMW groups at church and district levels could help to assemble welcome kits which will be delivered to new refugee familes. There is even the opportunity to set up the apartment! Since most refugee resettlement happens in the Twin Cities, this is a great opportunity for churches in Greater Minnesota to have a direct impact on the lives of newly arriving refugee families.
Thank you for sharing this information, and feel free to relay questions back to me. I think that this would be a great and impactful way for UMW groups to get involved in a group activity!
In Peace,
Kristin Zoellner
Refugee Services Resource Coordinator
Minnesota Council of Churches-Refugee Services
612.230.3219
www.mnchurches.org/refugee
IVAWA and The GROWTH Act
IVAWA ( H.R.4594 : International Violence Against Women Act of 2010 in the House of Representatives and S.2982 : International Violence Against Women Act of 2010 in the Senate) was referred to committee in both houses of Congress on February 4th this year. On June 16th, the Washington Office of Public Policy joined other organizations in sending letters to members of Congress encouraging them to sign on as additional co-sponsors of this important legislation. The advocacy organizations tracking this bill expect that it will come out of committee in the coming months. Dates as early as July were mentioned. The next stage in the bill's progress would be 'mark-up'. We will be tracking IVAWA progress as this unfolds. For more information on the status of IVAWA, please see the following website of our partner organization, Women Thrive Worldwide: www.womenthrive.org/ivawainfo The GROWTH Act, full title: TheGlobal Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive (GROWTH) Act (H.R. 5191/S.1425) was referred to The House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on April 29th. A coalition of organizations here is currently building co-sponsors for that as well. But there is no word on when (or if) we can expect it to emerge from committee.
You can take action now, to advance Congressional consideration of IVAWA, which may move more quickly than the GROWTH Act.
Background:
The United Nations Development Fund for Women estimates that one of every three women globally will be beaten, raped, or otherwise abused during her lifetime. A World Health Organization study examining diverse cultural settings in ten countries found that 15 to 71 percent of women reported physical or sexual violence by a husband or partner.
There are many forms of violence against women, including sexual, physical, or emotional abuse by an intimate partner; physical or sexual abuse by family members or others; sexual harassment and abuse by authority figures (such as teachers, police officers or employers); trafficking for forced labour or sex; and practices such as forced or child marriages, dowry-related violence; and "honor" killings, when women are murdered in the name of family "honor." Systematic sexual abuse in conflict situations is another form of violence against women.
Members of Congress including Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Susan Collins (R-ME) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Representatives William Delahunt (D-MA), Ted Poe (R-TX) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the International Violence Against Women Act (H.R. 4594/S. 2982) earlier this year. It is bi-partisan, groundbreaking legislation that would - for the first time - make stopping violence against women and girls a priority in U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid.
Below is a list of four easy things you can do to support the International Violence Against Women Act and help end violence against women and girls:
2. Spread the word about the International Violence Against Women Act using social media networks. Tweet or post a message on Facebook about the need to support the bill and help end violence against women and girls around the world.
4. This summer, schedule a meeting with your Member of Congress and ask him or her to support the International Violence Against Women Act and consider becoming a co-sponsor of the bill.
If you have any questions, please call my assistant, Anthony Cardone, at 202-488-5660
