Advocacy

World Neighbors recognizes that if the vital work it is doing with rural communities and organizations is to thrive and grow, it must be enabled by policies that support the rights and well being of these people.  This is especially so in a world of growing global connections.  

We are engaging in campaigns and policy efforts that address priority concerns of the communities we work with in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as to the supporters of World Neighbors.

Priority themes are:

• People-centered food systems
• Women's equity, rights and health 

Below are a few examples of the current relationships World Neighbors is building to improve our advocacy efforts across the globe:

The International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA)

The International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) supports innovative programs which have been shown to effectively decrease acts of violence and support survivors. Many of these programs help women and girls do things, such as go to school, earn an income to take care of their families, collect food or water without fear of rape and bring perpetrators of abuse to justice.

Globally, it is estimated that one out of every three women will be beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused over the course of her lifetime, with rates of domestic violence reaching up to 71% in some countries. IVAWA will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of existing U.S. foreign policy to end and respond to violence against women and girls around the world.

The IVAWA (H.R. 4594, S. 2982), which was introduced in the House and the Senate during the last Congress, was reintroduced on February 4, 2010. Learn more about about IVAWA and how you can take action at Women Thrive Worldwide. 

World Neighbors is a member of InterAction, the largest coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) focused on the world’s poor and most vulnerable people.  

World Neighbors signs open letter to President Obama

World Neighbors recently joined hundreds of businesses, NGOs and individuals in signing an open letter to President Obama asking for the creation of the first ever Global Development Strategy and revision of the outdated Foreign Assistance Act created in the Cold War era. Peer organizations Lutheran World Relief, InterAction, Women Thrive, PATH and others, have also signed the letter penned by the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN). 

Sign the letter and become a part of the solution for more effective foreign aid. To read and sign the open letter, click here.

World Neighbors supports InterAction’s Millennium Development Goals recommendations

World Neighbors signed onto InterAction’s suggestions for President Obama’s consideration for the September Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit. The report, entitled Achieving Millennium Development Goals: The Road Forward For the US, focuses on eight goals deemed important for the U.S. Government’s plan for the Summit. Recommendations for eradicating hunger, providing education, empowering women, fighting disease, developing global partnerships and a focus on accountability are included in the report. InterAction is the largest alliance of the U.S.-based relief and development NGOs and created the report based on decades of worldwide field experience.

To read InterAction’s plan, click here. 

The Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive (GROWTH Act)

How Would the GROWTH Act Help Women Living in Poverty?

U.S. assistance and trade policy to empower women in these areas:

• Small Business: Help women start and grow their own businesses
• Property Rights: Help increase women's land and property rights
• Wages and Working Conditions: Help improve women’s wages and working conditions by emphasizing training and education
• Access to Global Trade: Ensure that increased trade benefits women and families living in poverty.
• Local Women’s Organizations: Encourage U.S. agencies to recognize women and to work with local organizations that focus on women's needs. 

Get more information and take action today at Women Thrive Worldwide! 

U.S. Coalition for Child Survival 

The US Coalition for Child Survival is an organization dedicated to raising awareness and increasing U.S. commitment to global efforts that improve the survival and health of children under five in developing countries.

The Coalition currently brings together over 45 of the most influential organizations working in child survival and committed individuals who believe it is unacceptable that nearly 10 million children every year die of largely preventable or treatable causes. World Neighbors is proud to be a member of The Coalition.

 Learn more about The US Coalition for Child Survival. 

If you are interested in being involved in World Neighbors international advocacy efforts, please email Scott Killough at skillough@wn.org.