Bill Overview
Title: International Violence Against Women Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. The bill establishes in the Department of State an Office of Global Women's Issues, which shall be headed by an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. The Ambassador-at-Large shall (1) coordinate U.S. government efforts regarding gender equality and the advancement of women and girls in foreign policy, and (2) develop or update periodically a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. The bill establishes in the U.S. Agency for International Development the position of Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment who shall coordinate policies, programs, and funding regarding gender equality and women's empowerment.
Sponsors: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Target Audience
Population: Women and girls globally
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill mandates a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, suggesting a broad target population potentially encompassing a significant portion of the global female population.
- According to the United Nations, approximately 1 in 3 women globally experience gender-based violence, indicating a very large segment of the female population is affected.
- The global female population is approximately 3.9 billion as of 2022.
- Even if considering only the direct and immediate impacts, tens to hundreds of millions of women and girls directly afflicted by violence stand to be substantially affected by new protective measures.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts women and girls globally who suffer from gender-based violence, aiming to improve their safety and wellbeing indirectly by implementing U.S. strategies in foreign policy and international aid.
- In the U.S., the policy's influence will be indirect and felt mostly through increased awareness, funding, and international collaboration, potentially leading to improved resources and strategies regarding gender equality.
- Given the budget constraints, a significant part of the funds will likely be allocated to staffing, policy development, and international aid programs rather than direct interventions in the U.S.
- The domestic impact is estimated to involve administrative and advocacy roles that may indirectly benefit the local target population through enhanced international cooperation.
Simulated Interviews
Nonprofit Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy will lead to stronger international coalition-building to fight gender-based violence.
- The establishment of these roles shows commitment, but the impact will depend on execution and support from other nations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Journalist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The international focus is essential but I wonder how much impact it will have without support from other countries.
- Increased reporting and global strategies could drive more local action.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Diplomat (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an excellent step towards integrating gender equality into U.S. foreign policy.
- We need more concrete measures in partner countries to see real change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Policy Advisor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any progress in global gender equality is inherently beneficial to domestic policy through the principles it promotes.
- We might see trickle-down effects in our society as other nations improve gender-based violence responses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
College Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's inspiring to see such measures being taken on the global stage.
- I believe this will boost awareness and advocacy efforts here as well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Human Rights Activist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Acknowledging gender violence in foreign policy is overdue but necessary.
- The effectiveness will depend heavily on diplomatic relations and economic support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Social Worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A coordinated U.S. strategy could provide tools and funding necessary for grassroot organizations.
- I am cautiously optimistic about its direct impact on my work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Tech Industry Executive (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- International focus could set a benchmark for corporate policies on gender equality.
- Aligning U.S. global strategies with business principles can enhance our industry.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
NGO Project Manager (Boston, MA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a vital step towards changing attitudes globally.
- Implementation challenges are anticipated, but the long-term potential is hopeful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
High School Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Such efforts reflect positively on aspiring professionals like me.
- It's important to see the U.S. taking a leadership role in global gender issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $70000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $80000000)
Year 2: $72000000 (Low: $62000000, High: $82000000)
Year 3: $74000000 (Low: $64000000, High: $84000000)
Year 5: $78000000 (Low: $67000000, High: $89000000)
Year 10: $84000000 (Low: $72000000, High: $100000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $200000000)
Key Considerations
- Focus on coordination between different U.S. agencies may affect the efficiency and implementation speed of related policies.
- Potential overlap with other international programs aimed at reducing gender-based violence might require further delineation of goals and responsibilities.
- The scope of the strategy includes a global audience, which presents challenges in tailoring solutions for diverse cultural contexts.