Global Fragility Act

Santa Barbara, Calif. | July 25, 2019

ShelterBox USA has joined over 50 international humanitarian, peacebuilding, development, and human rights organizations in endorsing the H.R 1580 and S. 727, the Global Fragility Act of 2019.

The bipartisan Global Fragility Act (GFA) would require the U.S. government, in coordination with civil society, to develop an innovative 10-year strategy to bring down current levels of global violence and better address the root causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility that drive recurrent global crises.

“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 $14.1 trillion annually,” said ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray.

There is an urgent need to improve the U.S. government’s ability to reverse these trends and prevent future conflict.”

ShelterBox is a global leader in peacebuilding work and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 and 2019 for ongoing efforts to help families continue in adverse conditions and begin rebuilding their lives during and after humanitarian crisis, including in Syria, the Lake Chad Basin, and the Rohingya Crisis.

ShelterBox provides humanitarian aid in the form of family-sized tents and essential tools to start repairing and rebuilding homes. Additionally, the organization’s kits and boxes contain items that help transform shelter into a home, like cooking sets, solar lights, blankets, water filtration, and mosquito nets.

ShelterBox is endorsing this legislation in collaboration with the co-leadership of Alliance for Peacebuilding and Mercy Corps.

Building sustainable peace is an issue too large for any one organization to address alone,” said Murray.

“We look forward to working with Congress to pass the 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.”

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.

U.S. federal agencies, including USAID, partner with international civil society organizations like ShelterBox to address humanitarian needs around the world, including the provision of shelter. This legislation will provide the resources to use data to more effectively solve challenges to peace-building on a global scale.

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.

To volunteer, fundraise, or make a donation, visit www.shelterboxusa.org or call (941) 907-6036. Legacy giving and corporate giving options are available as well. ShelterBox USA is a 4-Star rated charity by Charity Navigator and has Platinum status from GuideStar.

 

About ShelterBox

Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter, warmth, and dignity following more than 300 disasters in over 100 countries. ShelterBox responds urgently to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, or conflict by delivering boxes of essential shelter aid and other life-saving supplies. Each iconic green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, a water filtration system, emergency lighting, and other tools for survival. ShelterBox USA is based in Sarasota, Florida and Santa Barbara, California.

ShelterBox is an official Project Partner of Rotary International. Tax-deductible donations to the organization can be made at www.ShelterBoxUSA.org or by calling (941) 907-6036.