Violence Against Women Used as War Tactic in Congo - Please Act!

"Sexual violence in Congo is the worst in the world.
The sheer numbers, the wholesale brutality, the culture of impunity – it's appalling."

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— John Holmes, UN
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs

As important as it is to relax and spend time our families over the holiday season, it's equally important to take time to speak out against atrocities occurring around the world.

Take Action now to help women and girls in the war-torn Democratic of Congo before New Year's >>

Any sexual assault is an unacceptable violent crime. But systematic use of rape by armed groups in eastern DRC should be named for what it is: a crime against humanity.

Yet despite years of reports and rhetoric about these atrocities, despite the presence of thousands of UN peacekeepers with a mandate to protect civilians, the attacks continue.

The International Violence Against Women Act (S.2279) would significantly increase U.S. commitment to ending gender-based violence in the DRC and around the world.

Tell the Senate to pass this legislation immediately! >>

Thank you for your heartfelt response.

Truly, Robyn E. Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

Halliburton Uses Binding Mandatory Arbitration Clause in Gang-Rape Cover Up!

The following is a shocking and horrifying story about how an internationally known company is using a mandatory binding arbitration clause in an employment contract to hide the truth and prevent a woman who was raped to have her day in court and hold her attacker accountable.

“Jamie Leigh Jones, now 22, says that after she was raped by multiple men at a KBR camp in the Green Zone (of Iraq), the company put her under guard in a shipping container with a bed and warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she'd be out of a job.” – ABC News, 20/20

Read The Whole Story Here

What is just as appalling is that Jamie will never have an opportunity to hold her rapists or her employers accountable in a court of law. Her employment contract, like millions of other Americans, includes a Binding Mandatory Arbitration clause. So instead of having her day in court, she’ll be forced into a privatized justice system with no public record.

“Since no criminal charges have been filed, the only other option, according to Hutson, is the civil system, which is the approach that Jones is trying now. But Jones' former employer doesn't want this case to see the inside of a civil courtroom. KBR has moved for Jones' claim to be heard in private arbitration, instead of a public courtroom. It says her employment contract requires it.” – ABC News, 20/20

The Arbitration Fairness Act (H.R. 3010/S. 1782), would ban Binding Mandatory Arbitration clauses in contracts like Jamie’s, and also in most other consumer, franchise, and securities contracts.

Tell Your Representatives To Cosponsor the Arbitration Fairness Act Today

Yesterday, December 12, 2007, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee heard testimony on the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007. So now is the time to write to your members of Congress and remind them to cosponsor AFA 2007.

So far, more than 60 members of Congress have joined the bill as cosponsors. Help add your members of Congress to the growing list by sending them a message right now.

Tell Your Representatives To Cosponsor the Arbitration Fairness Act Today

Join me in making sure that America never has to see another case like Jamie Leigh Jones, please take a moment and contact your Representatives today.

As always, thank you for your continued support,

Sean

Sean Peter Flaherty
People Over Profits Campaign