Nothing gets John Kerry more steamed than women and girls being targeted so cruelly:

[beachmom]

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/05/kerry_rips_atta.html

Senator John F. Kerry responded with outrage this afternoon to reports that school girls in Afghanistan are being targeted by poison gas to scare them away from going to class.

...

“I am deeply troubled by reports of poison attacks on school girls in Afghanistan, endangering hundreds of students and teachers," Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement.

"Today’s attack on girls in a school in Kapisa province follows two recent attacks on school girls in the nearby town of Charikar in Parvan province. This should be a wake-up call that girls and women in Afghanistan are still under physical threat and their security must be a top priority. Girls in Afghanistan should not have to risk their lives just to attend school. This is non-negotiable. My thoughts are with these brave young girls, their families, their teachers and principals, and I commend their courage for continuing to go to school. I urge the Afghan authorities to do all they can to stop these horrific attacks on innocent children.”

Of course, this is an outrage and everyone is disgusted by it. But I also think as a father to two daughters, Sen. Kerry finds this particularly offensive.

[wisteria]

1. I think everyone who respects females would be outraged by this display of harassment and

discrimination.

[Muttocracy]

2. Was there a bill that never passed the last Congress

about international protection of women? Sorry I'm being vague, I can't remember what it was called, but I'm thinking the SFRC looked into the issue?

[Mass]

3. There is a bill that is currently sponsored by Boxer and supporter by Kerry and others

Here is amnesty international press release. I guess the same one was in front of the Senate during the last congress, but never made it to a vote because the RW is opposed to it.

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-13-2009/0005025656&EDATE=

[Muttocracy]

4. ok, it is called international VAWA

thanks!

[karynnj]

5. Wasn't this Biden's bill last Congress

S.2279
Title: A bill to combat international violence against women and girls.
Sponsor: Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. (introduced 10/31/2007) Cosponsors (21)
Related Bills: H.R.5927
Latest Major Action: 10/31/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


I hope with the bigger Democratic majority that this year's version will pass.

[Muttocracy]

6. I was thinking it was a Biden-Lugar bill, hope it can go somewhere. nt