WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States launched its strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally.  The strategy outlines four key objectives: to increase coordination of gender-based violence prevention and response efforts among United States Government (USG) agencies and with other stakeholders; to enhance integration of gender-based violence prevention and response efforts into existing USG work; to improve collection, analysis, and use of data and research to enhance gender-based violence prevention and response efforts; and to enhance or expand USG programming that addresses gender-based violence. The Strategy was congressionally requested and was drafted by USAID, the U.S. Department of State and other relevant U.S. agencies.

The Strategy was launched during an event at the White House which gathered senior Administration representatives to launch the initiative alongside civil society representatives who have supported the Administration’s work in gender-based violence and more broadly on gender equality and women’s empowerment.  Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg participated on behalf of USAID.

At the event, a new Executive Order by President Obama was presented, which creates an interagency working group to be co-chaired by the Secretary of State and the Administrator of USAID and directs departments and agencies to implement the new United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally. USAID will strive to ensure its Missions abroad and operating units in Washington translate the strategy into meaningful action for millions of women, men and children worldwide.

Preventing and responding to gender-based violence is a cornerstone of the Administration’s commitment to advancing gender equality. Such violence significantly hinders the ability of individuals to fully participate in and contribute to their families and communities–economically, politically, and socially. Vice President Biden, who authored the Violence Against Women Act while in the Senate, has been a leader in efforts to end violence against women and girls for two decades. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the USAID Administrator Raj Shah have also been tireless advocates for ending gender-based violence, and have elevated this issue as a foreign policy priority.

For more information: http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment.