Countering Violence in the Western Hemisphere Act

The Countering Violence in the Western Hemisphere Act requires U.S. agencies to address gender-based violence (GBV) across the Western Hemisphere through concrete policy changes. It directs USAID to fund women-led organizations working to prevent and respond to GBV, expand economic empowerment programs for women, and train local law enforcement on GBV investigations and reporting. The bill also mandates that the U.S. include detailed GBV descriptions in annual human rights reports, contribute $2 million yearly to a UN fund ending violence against women, and produce a report on GBV’s role in migration. These provisions apply to U.S. agencies (like USAID and the State Department) and their partners in the Western Hemisphere, focusing on actionable programs rather than speculative outcomes.