For Immediate Release: October 15, 2009 Further Information: Mark Forest/Rory Sheehan - 202-225-3111 DELAHUNT HEARING ON INTERNATIONAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN   Panel Hears Wednesday From Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman & Ambassador Verveer WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA) announced that the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight will hold a hearing on Wednesday October 21 to examine international violence against women.   “Violence against women is on the rise around the world,” Delahunt said regarding Wednesday’s hearing.  “It is time to examine what the Congress, the Obama Administration and United Nations (UN) can do to stem this growing tide of violence.” The World Health Organization estimates that violence against women causes more disability and death among women aged 15 to 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war.  Violence against women also impedes a country’s economic stability, creates security threats for neighboring countries and the international community – as oppression and weak governance go hand-in-hand. Before serving in Congress, Delahunt was the Norfolk County District Attorney and worked tirelessly on women’s issues.  As D.A., he developed the nation’s first domestic violence unit to prosecute domestic violence and sexual assault cases.   At Wednesday’s hearing, the panel expects to hear from Actress Nicole Kidman, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Goodwill Ambassador, Breakthrough Founder and Executive Director, Mallika Dutt, U.S. State Department Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer, and Co-chair of the Women’s Caucus, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). Immediately following the hearing, Delahunt and Kidman will host a media availability in Room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building to give interested members of the press an opportunity to ask questions to hearing participants. DATE:           Wednesday, October 21, 2009 TIME:             2:00 p.m. SUBJECT:      International Violence Against Women: Stories and Solutions WITNESSES:      Panel I The Honorable Janice D. Schakowsky U.S. House of Representatives Panel II The Honorable Melanne Verveer Ambassador-at-Large Office of Global Women’s Issues U.S. Department of State Panel III                                    Ms. Mallika Dutt Founder and Executive Director Breakthrough Ms. Nicole Kidman Actress UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador -30- Newsroom