Individual donations will go a long way in ending violence against women and girls. By donating to Women Thrive Worldwide, you will be actively and directly supporting the work we do to ensure women’s safety all over the world.

Stay up to date on all the work we are doing to end violence against women and girls and be the first to learn of opportunities to take action.

Help end violence against women and girls by contacting your Members of Congress today! Your elected officials want to hear from you. Use your power as a constituent to urge your Representatives to support comprehensive legislation to end violence against women and girls internationally.

"Half the Sky" is a book close to our hearts here at Women Thrive Worldwide. An inspiring and brilliantly written piece of non-fiction, this book clearly makes the case for women to be equal citizens all over the world.

"Pushing the Elephant" is a brilliant documentary that tells the story of Rose Mapendo. Rose’s story is one of struggle, sacrifice, and courage. During the harrowing violence that engulfed the Democratic Republic of Congo in the late 1990s, Rose and her family were imprisoned and her husband executed. After her release, Rose relocates to Phoenix, Arizona, but had to leave one of her 10 children behind.

Women Thrive Worldwide highly recommends "Desert Flower". Based on the incredible true story of supermodel Waris Dirie, "Desert Flower" chronicles the life of a truly extraordinary woman who after years of abuse, neglect, and isolation rises to the heights of fame and fortune and subsequently uses that influence to advocate for women and girls who face the threat of female circumcision.

In 2010, one-third of the House and the Senate co-sponsored the International Violence Against Women Act and in the last weeks of Congress’s lame duck session the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to pass the bill.   Unfortunately, just as our momentum was heating up, the clock ran out on the 111th Congress.  Women Thrive and the IVAWA coalition remain committed to finding the best strategy to end violence against women and girls around the world and are in talks right now about how best to build on this momentum for 2011.

In honor of International Women's Day, Women Thrive Worldwide, along with Honorary Co-Chairs Senator John Kerry, Representative Ted Poe and Representative Jan Schakowsky, will be hosting a breakfast on Capitol Hill.

Women Thrive Worldwide hosted a gender roundtable, highlighting the often overlooked dangers that women and girl refugees in the Horn of Africa face including food insecurity, gender-based violence, and a lack of education.

Sign On letter to Congress and the Administration from the Women Faith and Development Organization to end gender based violence

In 2010, one-third of the House and the Senate co-sponsored the International Violence Against Women Act.

A section-by-section summary of the International Violence Against Women Act of 2010.

This 2009 fact sheet from Women Thrive Worldwide outlines the relationship between violence against women and economic opportunity.

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This flyer offers background information on the International Violence Against Women Act of 2010.

Nearly 50 members of the Women, Faith and Development Alliance sent a letter to Congress urging passage of the International Violence Against Women Act of 2010.

On March 25, 2011, Women Thrive and a coalition of nearly 40 faith-based organizations, delivered a letter to President Obama asking his Administration to create and implement a strategic and comprehensive initiative to combat violence against women and girls globally that not only addresses violence in conflict and post-conflict settings but also more systematically throughout the developing world. 

This document lists 100+ NGOs that endorse the International Violence Against Women Act of 2010.

On July 22, 2010 the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) and Women Thrive Worldwide began a powerful print and banner ad campaign in Politico to urge Congress to pass the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) this year.

Women Thrive Worldwide presents the 31 Days of Action—a grassroots campaign intended to push Congress to pass the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). Watch the video. Get inspired. Take action.

Celebrated actress and humanitarian Ashley Judd speaks in support of the International Violence Against Women Act at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

On March 23, 2010, celebrated actress and humanitarian Ashley Judd joined Women Thrive to discuss the global scourge of violence against women in a national teleconference.

The International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) Reintroduction Event took place on February 4 2010. See all the compelling speeches made on behalf of women all across the globe suffering from any form of violence.

Video taken of Ritu Sharma at a press conference after IVAWA hearing October 21, 2009.

On April 1, 2008, Ritu Sharma, President and Co-founder of Women Thrive Worldwide submitted testimony to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law.

This 2007 fact sheet from Women Thrive Worldwide provides alarming statistics on gender-based violence.

Ritu Sharma, President and Co-Founder of Women Thrive Worldwide, discusses the International Violence Against Women Act on MSNBC on December 16, 2010.

On December 16, 2010, Ritu Sharma, President and Co-Founder of Women Thrive Worldwide, discussed the International Violence Against Women Act on MSNBC. Watch the video here.

On December 15, Foreign Policy reported that the International Violence Against Women Act is one step closer to becoming law.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), Broad-Based Coalition Hails Progress and Urges House to Act Quickly So It Can Be Passed This Year

On December 2, The Hill's Congress Blog featured this piece on the International Violence Against Women Act.  The article was submitted by our friends at Human Rights Watch.

On November 15, Washington Women's Weekly published an interview with Women Thrive President, Ritu Sharma, in which she speaks about how Women Thrive Worldwide was established, the organization's coalition work, as well as her role as a lobbyist, president, and a mother.

On September 28, Betty Makoni's documentary, Tapestries of Hope, exposing the horrors of the rape and sexual abuse, was screened in 100 cinemas across the world.

On September 27, the Baltimore Sun published this OpEd written by Women Thrive Worldwide co-founder and president, Ritu Sharma. In it, Ritu advocates for Congress to pass the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA).

On May 14, 2010, Lifetime Television honored Ritu Sharma, President and Co-Founder of Women Thrive Worldwide, as part of their series, Lifetime Celebrates Remarkable Women.

On April 17, 2010 Anne Chandler and Ritu Sharma co-authored an op-ed for the Houston Chronicle about the importance of passing the IVAWA.

On March 4, 2010, the Washington Independent interviewed Suraya Pakzad about women's rights in Afghanistan.

On March 3, 2010, Ritu Sharma was on Fox News Strategy Room talking about International Violence Against Women Act as well as International Womens Day.

In the November 2009 issue of Natural Health magazine Ritu Sharma, Women Thrive's president and co-founder, answered questions about Women Thrive Worldwide.

Associated Press: Article by Deb Riechmann, (January 18, 2006)

Wyoming Tribune Eagle, the Hartford Courant, the Corning, New York, Leader, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Letter to the editor by Ritu Sharma, Co-Founder and President, (October 29 & 30, 2005).

Washington Post: Article by Jim Hoagland, (May 12, 2005)

The Women’s Edge Coalition welcomes the President’s announcement of  $55 million to bolster women’s justice and empowerment in four African nations.  According to the White House, the funds will be used to strengthen the capacity of legal institutions, to punish perpetrators of violence against women, and to help better reintegrate victims of violence into society.

Leading Women’s, Violence Prevention, Human Rights, Development Groups Push Legislation This Year.

February 4, 2010 - Women Thrive applauds the introduction of IVAWA in both Houses of the 111th Congress.

On October 7, Elizabeth Weingarten wrote an article for The Atlantic, which analyses the future of IVAWA.

On October 7, 2010 Business Week published an op-ed by Women Thrive Worldwide's president and co-founder, Ritu Sharma, which reveals the connection between violence and women's poverty, and encourages U.S. corporations to take action and support IVAWA - the International Violence Against Women Act.

On September 29, Fox News published this OpEd written by Women Thrive Worldwide co-founder and president, Ritu Sharma. In it, Ritu advocates for Congress to pass the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA).

On August 2, the Miami Herald posted an article focusing on the importance of passage of the International Violence Against Women Act in ending violence against women and girls globally.

On Saturday, July 31 at 1pm EST, Ritu Sharma, Co-founder and President of Women Thrive was interviewed on the Derrick Ashong Experience on Oprah Radio Network to discuss Women Thrive's work on ending violence against women worldwide.

On July 28, 2010 the Des Moines Register featured an article on the International Violence Against Women Act and its importance in helping end violence against women and girls worldwide.

On July 11, 2010, The Hill highlighted the grassroot efforts of women's groups in Ohio to pressure Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) to support the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA).

On May 13, 2010, World Pulse Magazine featured Ritu Sharma, Co-founder and President of Women Thrive Worldwide, who highlighted the intrinsic link between poverty and violence against women and girls.

On May 5, Ritu Sharma, co-founder of Women Thrive, was on News Channel 8 to talk about stopping violence against women worldwide.