Civil Society Coalition Welcomes Global Fragility Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2019
CONTACT
Laura Strawmyer | 317.340.1085 | laura@allianceforpeacebuilding.org
Richmond Blake | 202.999.8935 | rblake@mercycorps.org
WASHINGTON, DC – Over 50 Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) members and partners applaud the introduction of H.R 1580 and S. 727, the Global Fragility Act of 2019, by Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY), Mike McCaul (R-TX), Adam Smith (D-WA), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Bill Keating (D-MA), and Francis Rooney (R-FL) in the United States House of Representatives, and Senators Christopher Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Todd Young (R-IN) in the Senate, on March 7th.
The bipartisan Global Fragility Act (GFA) would require the U.S. government, in coordination with civil society, to develop an innovative 10-year Global Fragility Initiative or Strategy. This whole-of-government approach will improve the capacity of the United States government to identify and address threats to civilians in fragile, conflict-prone regions around the world.
The legislation would give U.S. federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of Defense, and others, the tools they need to work effectively and in coordination to identify security threats in at-risk communities and to mitigate them through diplomatic action and development programs.
H.R. 1580 and S. 727 build upon the progress of previous versions, including H.R. 5273, which passed the House of Representatives in 2018 with the broad bipartisan support of 376 representatives. The new versions are markedly stronger, as they will authorize the use of existing foreign assistance funds. Such investment is critical to ensuring the strategy and country plans will be implemented effectively.
This timely legislation comes at a moment when violent conflict has forcibly displaced a record 68.5 million people and costs the world an estimated $14.76 trillion annually. There is an urgent need to improve the U.S. government’s ability to reverse these trends and prevent future conflict.
The following list of leading international humanitarian, peacebuilding, development, human rights, and faith-based organizations endorse this legislation, under the co-leadership of AfP and Mercy Corps. We look forward to working with Congress to pass a revised Global Fragility Act as quickly as possible, with an emphasis on strengthening civil society-led good governance, conflict resolution, and violence reduction capacity over the long-term.
Alliance for Peacebuilding
American Friends Service Committee
American Jewish World Service
CARE
Carl Wilkens Fellows
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
Center on Conscience & War
Charity & Security Network
Chemonics
Church of the Brethren, Office of Public Witness
Conciliation Resources
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces
Cure Violence
Educators’ Institute for Human Rights
Foreign Policy 4 America
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Futures Without Violence
Global Communities
Global Water 2020
Humanity United Action
i-ACT
In Defense of Christians
Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy
InterAction
International Alert
International Civil Society Action Network
International Crisis Group (ICG)
International Rescue Committee
Jewish World Watch
Karuna Center for Peacebuilding
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Mercy Corps
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Latino Evangelical Coalition
Never Again Coalition
Nuru International
ONE Campaign
Pax Christi International
Pax Christi USA
Peace Direct
Presbyterian Church (USA)
PRBB Foundation
Saferworld
Search for Common Ground
STAND
Stop Genocide Now
United Church of Christ
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Women for Afghan Women
World Relief
World Vision
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About the Alliance for Peacebuilding
The Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) is the leading global network for organizations working to end conflict and build sustainable peace worldwide. Our 100-plus members include some of the world’s largest development organizations, most innovative academic institutions, and the most powerful peacebuilding groups. We bring together coalitions in key areas of strategy and policy to elevate the entire peacebuilding field, tackling issues too large for any one organization to address alone.