On Wednesday March 8th WRC is issuing a call to action in support to “A Day Without A Woman.”
It falls on International Women’s Day a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality. This day began in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, and voting rights.
“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights,” says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem.
WRC is calling attention to this day in light of the current President’s administration plans to reduce federal spending by cutting funding to the Office of Violence Against Women. This office was established by the Justice Department in 1995 to provide assistance and administer grants to programs and policies aimed at ending all forms of violence against women established by the Violence Against Women Act passed by Congress in 1994.
One in 3 women in the United States has been physically assaulted, raped, or stalked by an intimate partner. In San Diego County 475,000 women have experienced intimate partner violence. WRC has been providing services to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault survivors: women, men, and children for over 40 years in the North County community.
As part of our call to action on March 8th, we are asking that you call Representative Darrell Issa who is the representative over the area our office and residential programs are located in. Representative Issa voted for the reauthorization of VAWA in 2013. You will be asking him to take a stance against President Trump’s budget cuts as well as the Attorney General Jeff Sessions who voted against the reauthorization in 2013 and has publicly opposed support for gender-based violence programs.
Washington DC office: 202-225-3906 Vista Office: 760-599-5000 Dana Point Office: 949-281-2449Here is a script that you can follow in your call:
Hi, my name is _________________, and I live in ________.
I’m calling to talk about the Violence Against Women Act. As an (employee / family member of an employee/ supporter / board member / former client) of Women’s Resource Center, this funding is crucial in saving the lives of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Congressman Issa has voted in support of VAWA in the past, and I expect him to continue to vote in favor of it in the future. Women’s Resource Center provided emergency shelter for 310 domestic violence and sexual assault victims and their children, and 223 children participated in various programs last year.
Please show your legislative leadership by continuing to support the Violence Against Women Act.
I would like a written response from the Congressman.
My address is ____________________.
Thank you.
A Day Without a Woman
The group who established the Woman’s March in January have created a few other ways that you can support A Day Without A Woman:
- Women take the day off, from paid and unpaid labor
- Avoid shopping for one day (with exceptions for small, women- and minority-owned businesses).
- Wear RED in solidarity with A Day Without A Woman
Please feel free to share how you are going to be engaging in International Woman’s Day/Day Without A Woman on WRC’s Facebook.
Continue to check back with our blog. WRC will be keeping a close eye on the movement of the administration against the Office of Violence Against Women and will have further calls to action including a follow up letter writing on March 15th.