TEN STEPS TO BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR GIRLS’ AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS WORLDWIDE

>>Available in PDF

1) DONATE TO IWHC

Your investment will help us to

• make $2 million in grants to more than 70 programs that empower and protect women and girls across Africa, Asia, and Latin America
  
• leverage a significant portion of $10 billion in annual global AIDS funds to ensure that women and girls can access health services and information, and to end the sexual coercion and child marriage that make them so vulnerable to HIV
  
• double our communications capacity to create political will and promote social justice for the most disadvantaged women and girls.

2) STAY INFORMED & SPREAD THE WORD

Use IWHC’s policy briefs and factsheets to educate and engage your family and
friends. Read our newest piece, “Preventing Cervical Cancer—The HPV Vaccine.” Monitor the President's and Congress's domestic and international policies, actions,
nominations, and appointments affecting women and girls globally with Bush's Other War, and Stay Informed, Take Action.

3) SEEK NEW SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Keep up to date on issues the mainstream media either marginalizes or ignores by
subscribing to one of these alternative news sources:

• IWHC Email Updates: for information on innovative programs by and for
  women and youth worldwide (click here).
  
• UN Integrated Regional Information Network: for country-level reports on
  humanitarian and health issues worldwide (www.irinnews.org).
  
• The Kaiser Family Foundation: for daily updates on HIV/AIDS, reproductive
  health, and U.S. health policy (www.kaisernetwork.org).

4) SPEAK TRUTH TO THE PRESS

If you read an article on women’s health and rights that makes you feel inspired or angry, write a letter to the editor (250 words or less!). Email the reporter—or his/her editor—directly and thank them for the coverage. Let them know you’re waiting for more.

5) MAKE WASHINGTON ACCOUNTABLE

Write to your Senators and Representatives about key legislation that affects girls and women locally and globally, and make sure their votes represent your views. Visit www.congress.org/congressorg/home to learn how to contact your Senators or Representatives. For executive matters, call the White House comment line at
202-456-1111 and be ready with a very short message. For a list of talking points, consult Bush's Other War.

6) JOIN AN IWHC DONOR COUNCIL

You can join one of IWHC's Donor Councils by donating $250, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 or more. The Councils educate supporters, provide opportunities for involvement, and widen the circle of advocates for women and girls worldwide. To learn more about IWHC’s Donor Councils, click here.

7) SIGN UP FOR IWHC’S ACTION LIST

Join IWHC’s action list and receive periodic email alerts on opportunities to influence U.S. foreign policy that affects women and girls worldwide. To sign up, click here.

8) SUPPORT THE PATHWAY ACT

The Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth (PATHWAY) Act will ensure that U.S. development assistance addresses the circumstances that make women and girls vulnerable to HIV infection. To learn more, visit Stay Informed, Take Action.

9) PROMOTE CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Business has an important role to play in helping employees and their families to adopt positive patterns of life. Consider whether your organization could develop a policy on HIV in the labor force, or create a campaign to end violence against girls and women. Talk to someone in a position to put such a plan into action or, if you’re
that person, start working on it. Investing in women's health and rights is one of the best investments that businesses can make.

10) SHARE THIS LIST WITH A FRIEND!