Department of Justice Will "Deter Violence" Against Abortion Providers
The Huffington Post reported that Attorney General Eric Holder gave a stern speech at the Washington Lawyer's Committee Tuesday condemning violent acts against abortion providers like Dr. George Tiller. Holder promised the Department of Justice would to "deter violence against reproductive health care providers," and prosecute those engage in violence.

He told the Committee:

"Neither our respect for the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech nor our clearest hope for common ground can justify the violence that we saw in Kansas," Holder said. "We will not tolerate murder or the threat of violence masquerading as political activism. Let me be clear, the Justice Department will use every tool at its disposal to protect the rights ensured under our constitution and we will do all that we can to deter violence against reproductive health care providers and prosecute those who use such violence to the fullest extent of the law."

His comments were also relevant for other recent violence that has taken place around the country, referring to the shooting at the Holocaust Museum in DC, where a security guard was killed by a white supremacists.

Hillary Clinton Issues Human Trafficking Report
Today, Hillary Clinton issued the ninth Department of State Trafficking in Humans Report, according to Feminist Daily News Wire.

In the introductory letter to the report from Clinton said,

"The human trafficking phenomenon affects virtually every country, including the United States. In acknowledging America's own struggle with modern-day slavery and slavery-related practices, we offer partnership. We call on every government to join us in working to build consensus and leverage resources to eliminate all forms of human trafficking."

The report said that 5,212 human trafficking cases prosecuted globally in 2008, and out of that number, there were 2,983 convictions. The report talked about punishments for traffickers, but also discussed ways to protect trafficking victims.

Legislation to Eliminate Child Marriage is Passed in House of Representatives
The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2009 was passed last week in the House of Representatives by a 235-187 vote, according to Feminist Daily News Wire. The initiative is meant to eliminate child marriages in developing countries.

Betty McCollum (D-MN), author of the original bill, said, "child marriage is a human rights violation that undermines America's investments in foreign assistance to improve women's and girl's education, health, and economic status."

Child marriage is common in rural, poor areas of developing countries. Child brides are often given no education opportunities, pressure to have children and lower long-term reproductive health, according to the article.