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  • Writer's pictureStephanie Hernandez

To Every Woman Who Marched in the Women's March

Long and Short Versions of Letter To the Editor submitted in January 2018.


Long Version

Thank you for raising your voice. Thank you.

Now that the signs are put away, what will you do? Now that you made a public display of support for women’s rights - how will you turn that into action?

Don’t march and then forget- otherwise, your show of numbers will be nothing but a hollow sentiment with no force for change.


To every woman who marched: women's rights are indeed human rights - and global rights. Will you support the right for the health care of marginalized women in poor countries? Will you support the fight against gender based violence? Yes, lack of healthcare and sexual exploitation are issues that American women face, and must be dealt with. But there are women in developing nations who do not have access to basic education, access to clean running water, or have the means to make their voices heard to their own governments. Supporting the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA), and the REACH Act are two ways you can make a change for women everywhere. IVAWA will implement programs that fight gender based violence - such as child marriage and human trafficking - as a cornerstone of our foreign policy. The REACH Act aims to decrease preventable child and maternal deaths, by expanding or redirecting USAID funding to programs that provide women in developing nations with better access to reproductive health and nutrition for their children. 7,000 newborns die every day due to malnutrition, and 800 women die every day from pregnancy related complications.


Write a personal letter to your elected official. Make a phone call, letting them know why you support these two life-saving legislative actions. Your voice as a voter has an impact. Don’t only march. Make a real stand for women’s rights everywhere.


Short Version

Now that the signs are put away, what will you do? How will you turn the Women’s March into action?


Supporting the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA), and the REACH Act are two ways you can make a change for women everywhere. IVAWA will implement programs that fight gender based violence around the world. The REACH Act expands or redirects USAID funding to programs that provide women in developing nations with better access to reproductive health and nutrition for their children. 7,000 newborns die every day due to malnutrition, and 800 women die every day from pregnancy related complications.

Write a personal letter to your elected official. Make a phone call, telling them why you support these two life-saving legislative actions. Your voice as a voter has power. Don’t only march. Make a real stand for women’s rights everywhere.


(Written in role of CARE Action Advocate. Submitted to the Austin Statesman, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, and Houston Press)

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