,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #gfe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #af1 #bjba,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,murkowski1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,ms4 ,rosen1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 ,ms4 ,collins1 and ,mr4 ,reed7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to improve ,united ,states consideration of1 and strategic support for1 programs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence from the onset of humanitarian emergencies and to build the capacity of humanitarian actors to address the immediate and long-term challenges resulting from such violence1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,keeping ,women and ,girls ,safe from the ,start ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,displaced and stateless people and refugees1 particularly women and girls1 in conflict settings1 natural disasters1 and other humanitarian emergencies1 often face extreme violence and threats of violence1 including-- 7,a7 rape and sexual assault2 7,b7 domestic or intimate partner violence2 7,c7 child1 early1 and forced marriage2 7,d7 trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor2 7,e7 harmful traditional practices1 such as female genital mutilation or cutting2 and 7,f7 harassment1 exploitation1 and abuse by humanitarian personnel4 7#b7 ,gender-based violence increases during humanitarian emergencies and violent acts1 such as intimate partner violence and child marriage1 are often exacerbated during times of crisis4 7#c7 ,nearly #a in #e women affected by a humanitarian emergency report experiencing sexual violence during such emergency4 7#d7 ,during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 the risk of domestic violence1 child marriage1 trafficking1 and other forms of gender-based violence and abuse has increased and compounds the risk displaced women and girls face in emergencies4 7#e7 ,survivors of gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies require-- 7,a7 immediate1 life-saving assistance1 including access to medical and psychosocial services1 such as post-rape care2 7,b7 access to justice and community-level reintegration2 and 7,c7 opportunities to earn livelihoods1 build skills1 and receive an education4 7#f7 ,early medical interventions after incidents of rape can help to prevent infections1 ,,hiv1 and pregnancy4 7#g7 ,empowering women to assume leadership roles in delivering humanitarian assistance and effectively engaging local women's rights organizations to provide life-saving assistance is critical to supporting survivors or those at risk of gender-based violence during humanitarian crises4 7#h7 ,between #bjaf and #bjah1 inclusive1 funding for gender-based violence in humanitarian crises represented just #j4ab percent of all funding for humanitarian response activities4 7#i7 ,during #bjac1 the international community launched the ,global ,call to ,action on ,protection from ,gender-,based ,violence in ,emergencies initiative to improve prevention and responses to gender-based violence in humanitarian settings4 7#aj7 ,the ,united ,states demonstrated its commitment to this initiative by implementing ,safe from the ,start1 under the direction of the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development 7,,usaid7-- 7,a7 to reduce the incidence of gender-based violence2 and 7,b7 to ensure quality services for survivors from the very onset of emergencies through timely and effective humanitarian action4 7#aa7 ,the ,united ,states has further demonstrated its commitment to prevent and respond to gender-based violence globally through the following documents3 7,a7 ,the ,united ,states ,strategy to ,prevent and ,respond to ,gender-,based ,violence ,globally1 published by ,,usaid in ,august #bjab4 7,b7 ,the ,united ,states ,global ,strategy to ,empower ,adolescent ,girls1 adopted by the ,department of ,state in ,march #bjaf4 7,c7 ,the ,u4,s4 ,strategy ,to ,support ,women and ,girls at ,risk ,from ,violent ,extremism and ,conflict1 submitted to ,congress in ,october #bjah4 7,d7 ,the ,united ,states ,strategy on ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security1 released by the ,president in ,june #bjai4 7,e7 ,advancing ,protection and ,care for ,children in ,adversity3 ,a ,u4,s4 ,government ,strategy for ,international ,assistance 7#bjai-bjbc71 posted online by ,,usaid in ,july #bjai4 #c4 ,statement of policy objectives 7a7 ,in general ,it is in the national interest of the ,united ,states to take effective action-- 7#a7 to prevent1 mitigate1 and respond to gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies around the world2 7#b7 to promote respect for basic human rights and gender equality2 and 7#c7 to support economic growth1 improved public health1 and peace and stability around the world4 7b7 ,programs1 activities1 and initiatives ,the policy objectives set forth in subsection 7a7 are reinforced through programs1 activities1 and initiatives that-- 7#a7 build the capacity of humanitarian actors responding to crises1 including the capacity of governments1 international organizations1 international nongovernmental organizations1 faith-based and non-faith-based organizations1 and local nongovernmental groups 7especially women-led organizations71 to prevent1 mitigate1 and respond to gender-based violence2 7#b7 systematically integrate and coordinate efforts to prevent gender-based violence1 including by-- 7,a7 incorporating gender-based violence risk mitigation interventions across all humanitarian sectors2 and 7,b7 promoting support for1 and collaboration with1 gender-based violence response experts2 7#c7 support activities that-- 7,a7 prevent and mitigate the impacts of gender-based violence in humanitarian settings2 and 7,b7 empower survivors or those at risk of gender-based violence2 7#d7 improve the delivery and quality of services for survivors and at-risk populations of gender-based violence1 including-- 7,a7 access to medical and psychosocial services that comply with international standards2 and 7,b7 service delivery to hard-to-reach populations2 7#e7 ensure protection against and accountability for sexual exploitation and abuse1 by and against humanitarian personnel2 7#f7 advance the active leadership and participation of women and girls impacted by humanitarian crises1 including in the design1 implementation1 and evaluation of programs and other activities2 7#g7 ensure1 when providing assistance to international and nongovernmental organizations in a humanitarian response1 that particular emphasis be given to such organizations led by women impacted by the humanitarian crisis2 and 7#h7 promote transparency and accountability of ,united ,states ,government programs and humanitarian implementers' efforts related to preventing and responding to gender-based violence in humanitarian response4 #d4 ,authorized ,safe from the ,start activities ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall carry out ,safe from the ,start activities that accomplish the policy objectives set forth in section #c1 including-- 7#a7 training and capacity building for humanitarian personnel and other humanitarian first responders-- 7,a7 to identify and prevent gender-based violence in humanitarian settings2 and 7,b7 to support survivors and those at risk through best practices1 including-- 7i7 established international minimum standards for gender-based violence prevention and response2 and 7ii7 referrals to qualified gender-based violence responders2 7#b7 the deployment of1 and support for1 skilled gender advisors and female humanitarian aid workers that comply with international standards1 including through the ,gender-,based ,violence ,area of ,responsibility coordinated by the ,united ,nations ,population ,fund2 7#c7 the development of technical skills of local nongovernmental organizations and other local actors1 such as women impacted by the humanitarian crisis1 including skills related to advocacy1 monitoring1 data collection1 evaluation1 and communications2 7#d7 performing on-the-ground gender analyses and rapid gender assessments2 7#e7 the deployment of international minimum standards1 guidelines1 best practices1 and other tools to improve the integration of efforts to identify1 prevent1 and address gender-based violence across all humanitarian assistance programs and initiatives1 in consultation with international and local nongovernmental organizations and other gender-based violence experts2 7#f7 promoting existing international minimum standards1 indicators1 and metrics to ensure appropriate response and assess the adequacy of interventions relating to gender-based violence2 7#g7 efforts to improve the quality and availability of services for survivors and those at risk of gender-based violence1 including medical and psychosocial care and hygiene and dignity kits2 7#h7 expanding and improving empowerment activities1 including-- 7,a7 women's and girls' economic opportunities and livelihoods2 7,b7 social network building2 7,c7 education and skills2 and 7,d7 leadership roles and participation in humanitarian response2 and 7#i7 establishing accountability mechanisms and monitoring and reporting tools to prevent and respond to incidents of sexual or other gender-based exploitation or abuse perpetrated by personnel delivering humanitarian assistance and associated personnel4 #e4 ,reporting requirements 7a7 ,defined term ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7#b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7#c7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#d7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives4 7b7 ,progress report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the progress made by the ,united ,states1 in conjunction with partners1 such as the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees1 the ,united ,nations ,population ,fund1 the ,world ,health ,organization1 the ,world ,food ,program1 the ,united ,nations ,children's ,fund1 and the ,international ,organization for ,migration1 to prevent1 mitigate1 and address gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies4 7#b7 ,report elements ,the report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 7i7 an analysis of data and research regarding the key drivers of gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies2 7ii7 the needs and services required by survivors or those at risk2 and 7iii7 successful program models to address1 prevent1 and mitigate such violence2 and 7,b7 a detailed description of the programs1 diplomatic efforts1 and other activities undertaken by the ,united ,states to implement ,safe from the ,start1 in accordance with section #d1 including-- 7i7 a description of the steps taken-- 7,i7 to integrate prevention1 mitigation1 and respond to gender-based violence into humanitarian assistance2 7,,ii7 to develop humanitarian standards2 and 7,,iii7 to respond to specific humanitarian crises2 7ii7 a description of the progress made toward achieving specific objectives1 metrics1 and indicators for implementation of ,safe from the ,start programming1 disaggregated1 as appropriate1 by gender1 age1 and type of violence2 7iii7 a list of the all projects funded or supported through ,safe from the ,start programming1 with specific details on levels of funding or assistance and impacts of such projects disaggregated1 as appropriate1 by gender1 age1 and type of violence2 7iv7 an assessment of the extent to which consultations with nongovernmental organizations1 including local1 national1 and intergovernmental actors have led to the development of programs1 standards1 and interventions to combat gender-based violence2 7v7 a list of the policies or programs implemented by international or multilateral organizations receiving funding from the ,united ,states ,government-- 7,i7 to improve capacity and internal protocols to identify signs of gender-based violence1 including sexual exploitation and abuse2 and 7,,ii7 to integrate initiatives to prevent and respond to gender-based violence into programs of the organization2 and 7vi7 a description of any diplomatic action taken bilaterally1 multilaterally1 or with international organizations to encourage the governments of other countries and international organizations to adopt policies and support efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in emergency situations in alignment with the ,global ,call to ,action on ,protection from ,gender-,based ,violence in ,emergencies4 7#c7 ,form ,the report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form1 but may include a classified annex4 ,the unclassified portion of such report shall be concurrently published on a publicly available website of the ,department of ,state4 7c7 ,budget report ,not later than #abj days after the ,president submits each budget to ,congress under section #aaje7;a7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a budget crosscut report that-- 7#a7 displays the budget proposed1 including any planned interagency or intra-agency transfer1 for each of the principal ,federal agencies that will be carrying out activities through the ,safe from the ,start programming focus described in section #d in the fiscal year for which such budget is submitted2 7#b7 separately reports the amount of funding to be provided pertaining to the ,safe from the ,start strategy under subsection 7b71 to the extent such plans are available2 and 7#c7 identifies1 at the account level to the extent practicable1 all ,federal assistance and research expenditures for ,safe from the ,start activities in each of the #e previous fiscal years4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act the greater of-- 7#a7 such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year to carry out this ,act2 or 7#b7 the amount expended by the ,department of ,state during fiscal year #bjah to carry out ,safe from the ,start activities4