Medium - This International Women's Day, we must #PressForProgress

Op-Ed

By Jan Schakowsky

Every year on International Women's Day, we pause to take stock of the work we've done to improve life for women and girls around the world and to recommit ourselves to conquering the many obstacles that are left. Today, following a particularly tumultuous year for women, we have many achievements to celebrate and a lot of work ahead of us.

This year, women made their voices heard when they spoke out against sexual abuse, harassment, and all forms of sexual violence in what came to be known as the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements. High profile cases drove the conversation and encouraged victims and survivors to come out of the shadows. Now we must harness the incredible energy of those movements and make sure that we protect all women from this scourge.

Low-income women, women of color, and undocumented migrants are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, especially in the workplace. According to the International Labor Rights Forum, "40--50% of women in industrialized countries experience unwanted sexual advances, harassment or physical contact at work a statistic that is likely worse in developing countries where violence often goes unreported." In the coming year, I will continue my focus on this, and I hope that it will be part of the larger movement to improve the status of women worldwide.

Another massive challenge facing women around the world is the unparalleled refugee crisis that rages on in virtually every corner of the world. Like most global crises, the mass displacement brought on by conflict and strife is uniquely and disproportionately affecting women and girls. However, we have seen inspiring example after example of women acting as the most effective advocates for peace.

The fact is that when women are involved, peace is obtained more frequently and is much more likely to last. The International Peace Institute found that with each five percent increase in women's participation in the political process, a nation is five times less likely to use violence when faced with international crisis or conflict. That knowledge was the guiding principle behind the Women, Peace and Security Act, a bipartisan bill that I wrote, sponsored, and enacted last year. In case you're interested, I have included the video of my remarks following the passage of the Women, Peace and Security Act below:

Although many in the United States today have well-founded fears about the rolling back of women's rights, I believe that passage of the Women, Peace and Security Act into law last year demonstrates that we don't have to wait another minute to advocate for policies that enshrine the equality and dignity of women. In that spirit, I have recently reintroduced another bill, the International Violence Against Women Act. If passed, this bill would ensure that the eradication of violence against women is a central piece of the United States foreign policy agenda. The video op-ed below offers more information on my bill and what it would do.

The theme for this year's International Women's Day is #PressForProgress. This theme is a call to action a reminder that we cannot let up on our campaign to achieve full and true equality. Today, we who believe in the inherent dignity and worth of women everywhere take time to celebrate our victories and set our goals for the year to come. Tomorrow, we continue our fight. We press for progress.

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