1. WG-USA Advocacy Committee
Respectfully Submitted,
Cynthia Grguric, Advocacy Convener
Members: Kathleen Laurila, Alice Dahle, Nancy Mion, Isabela Symanska, Susan Russell, Jeanne Clarke, Janet Heinicke, Anita Glisic, Sharada Jayagopol, Kathy Horvat, Louise McLeod, Geeta Desai, Elise A. Rogers Halliday Okobi

2. Letters & Petitions
Monitored US legislation regarding the rights of women and has partnered with other NGOs on letters and petitions to the U.S. Congress, the UN, the US Department of State and the U.S. President.
> – Six Letters sent

3. Webinar
On September 10th, The Committee along with the Program Committee held a webinar on –
Unclogging the Backlog of Untested Rape Kits: Questions, Consequence, and Resolutions
> 25 people attended

4. Blogs – Connect on Home Page
Middle of Left Hand column link:
Different members have written on issues related to WG- USA priorities.
Upper Right Hand column link:
Kathleen Laurila and Louise McLeod post articles and commemorative dates related to WG-USA issues.

5. E-Blasts
The Committee also issued a number of timely e-blasts with the help of the Communications Committee to the general membership asking members to write and/or call their elected officials regarding women’s issues that were being discussed in Congress and the Senate

6. Refugee Women and Girls
Resolutions
The Committee helped to approve the resolution pioneered by Geeta Desai and Sharada Jayagopol for:
Street Sexual Harassment of Women and Girls Violation of their Human and Civil Rights.
The Committee has begun the process to instigate resolutions related to education, trafficking and violence and peace and security of:
Refugee Women and Girls

7. Future Directions
• engage the webinar tool for advocacy with a presentation on Gender Violence
• seeking means of engaging men into our webinars and themes.
• continues to navigate its role within the other committees providing support on initiatives and resolutions.