Day 7 - Melanne Verveer

In January 2009, Melanne Verveer became the first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. In this post, Verveer works diligently to increase opportunities for women to be involved in political processes and advance their social and economic opportunities. Prior to her appointment, Verveer held other prominent government positions and co-founded Vital Voices, an organization which empowers women to become agents of change in their societies and promoters of democracy and social justice.

In the short time in her present office, Verveer has been a strong advocate for the eradication of violence against women and girls around the world. In her testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during its recent hearing on “Violence against Women: Global Costs and Consequences,” Verveer stated:

Verveer went on to testify about the violence that women around the world confront, including in Burma, Pakistan, Congo, and Sudan. Addressing the situation in Darfur, she explained, “the displaced women in Sudan’s Darfur region risk rape when they leave camps to collect firewood – rape by some of the same perpetrators that caused their displacement and by other militia and bandits. In refugee camps in eastern Chad and in Kenya, women risk attack by local people protecting their resources as well as by armed groups. Rape is used in conflict situations as a purposeful strategy to subdue and destroy communities, and an atmosphere of impunity prevails.”

In recognition of her pioneering work to advance global women’s empowerment, we are proud to name Melanne Verveer as one of our 16 Leaders.

Today, we will be using social networking sites in order to spread information about the 16 Days.

Use Facebook? Here’s what you can do:

1. Post a link on your wall to http://www.savedarfur.org/16days on your wall, along with text that says: Join me in honoring the women of Sudan by participating in the "16 Days" campaign. Check out http://www.savedarfur.org/16days to learn more.
2. Make this your status:
 In Darfur, Sudan, rape is used as a weapon of war. Millions of displaced civilians, the majority women and children, live in squalid camps. With insufficient protection by United Nations forces, women face constant risk of rape, especially when they leave camps to collect firewood or farm. If you believe that women's rights are human rights, stand with the women of Sudan and post this as your facebook status today.

On Twitter? Use the following tweet to sign our petition asking Secretary Clinton to help protect the women of sudan:

• Petition @dipnote to protect the women of Sudan! Women's rights are human rights. http://act.ly/1f3 RT to sign #actly #16days

Note: You can visit http://act.ly/1f3 to read the and sign the petition.