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From Thailane
-^ Capitol Hill

Advocating Congress to pass the
Violence Against Women Act.

Bobby Siporin with U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and
Ruth Messinger, president of AJWS

S fitting on the ground in
gender-based violence that they
a circle comprised of 17
experience in the camps, and
American rabbis and
provides survivors of violence with
several women refugees
support and shelter so that they can
from Burma (or Myanmar, as it is
rebuild their lives.
sometimes called), I
With my hand raised, I
raised my hand to ask a
asked what was the biggest
question.
challenge KWO faced on
My group —
a daily basis. I assumed
the Global Justice
they might say that the
Fellowship of American
organization needed more
Jewish World Service
money or a safer passage
(AJWS) — was in Mae
between Burma and
Sariang, a small town
Thailand, or more people
along the Yuam River
to help advocate for their
in Northern Thailand.
cause. Instead, the KWO
We had just finished
leader said that she and
Bobby S iporin
sharing a home-cooked
other activists need a voice
Special t o the
meal with the Karen
in Burma. She said it was
Jewish News
Women's Organization
frustrating that her country
(KWO), a human rights
made decisions about
organization that works in refugee
its future without considering the
camps on the Thailand/Burma
people's needs and desires.
border.
I recalled this memory last month
KWO represents the Karen people,
as I walked with Ruth Messinger,
an ethnic group that has faced
president of AJWS, to the U.S.
violence and oppression from the
Capitol in Washington, D.C. We were
former Burmese military government.
in Washington with nearly 150 other
Many of the Karen fled to Thailand,
AJWS supporters for AJWS's Policy
where thousands still live as
Summit and were headed to an early
refugees.
morning meeting with Sen. Debbie
While the Burmese government
Stabenow, D-Mich., to discuss the
has started to implement reforms
women I met with at KWO and why
and make steps toward democracy,
the U.S. government needs to pass
many Karen refugees are afraid to
the International Violence Against
return home. The women of KWO
Women Act (IVAWA).
train Karen people in the refugee
In addition to supporting efforts to
camps and in Burma to organize
stop gender-based violence around
their communities and push for
the world, IVAWA would ensure that
better political representation,
more of the United States' foreign
both locally and internationally.
aid goes to grassroots organizations
The organization also helps Karen
women stop domestic and other
From Thailand on page 44

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Photos by:
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Frameable Faces Photography

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JN

June 12 • 2014

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