Women’s Issues Committee

2012 Priorities

(1) Sex Trafficking: Work with NYS Legislators to assure enactment of needed changes to the 2007 Anti-Trafficking Law and the Safe Harbor Act.

(2) Reproductive Rights: win passage of the NYS Reproductive Health Act and work to have contraception included in the new Affordable Care Act.

(3) Sex Education: monitor curriculum of the new sex education mandate in NYC public schools.

(4) Pay Equity: continue working with the Equal Pay Coalition to enact the NYS Equal Pay Law.

(5) Creation of a Young Women’s Initiative.

Rachel Lloyd and Miriam Goodman discuss sex trafficking

Eliminating Discrimination and Abuse

6/22/11 – Supports efforts to end human trafficking and to change the current response to recognize that prostituted individuals are victims, not criminals. WCC joins the New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition.
7/19/11 – Urges Governor Cuomo to oppose prostitution legislation which does not account for the fact that the majority of prostitutes are victims of coercion and/or sex trafficking.
8/8/11 – Calls on NYC Mayor to start a “Young Women’s Initiative” and provides follow-up testimony to NYC Council.
12/8/11 – Protests, as a member of the Coalition against Sex Trafficking, the Village Voice’s Backpage.com, which publishes sex ads facilitating the exploitation of minors.
12/09/11 – Sponsors program, How We Can Curb Sex Trafficking in New York City with speakers Rachel Lloyd of GEMS and Miriam Goodman of the Midtown Community Court.
1/27/12 – Attends legislator luncheon hosted by the NYS Anti-Trafficking Coalition to discuss needed changes in current trafficking legislation.
2/17/12 – Writes to the NYS Senate Budget Committee urging them to support funding for The Safe Harbor for Exploited Children Act.
3/27/12 – Celebrates Women’s History Month with the NYC Comptroller’s office by honoring NYC women who have made a difference in their communities.

WCC members and friends rally to support women's reproductive health.

Reproductive Health

10/7/11 – Starts petition supporting Military Access to Reproductive Health and Care Act (MARCH) to provide for abortions in cases of rape and incest.
11/11/11 – Ms. Magazine online publishes WCC oral history of female veteran.

Equal and Sick Pay

10/11/11 – Urges DOL to implement compensation data collection tool to enforce laws that prohibit pay discrimination.
12/12/11 – Formulates advocacy plan to ensure the passage of the “Paid Sick Days Act” by the NYC Council as a member of the Paid Sick Days Coalition.
2/14/12 – Advocates for Senator Krueger’s endorsement of bill, A8347/S5674, which would prohibit retaliatory personnel actions by employers.
3/15/12 – Exposes gender discrimination present in today’s workplace at our program entitled, The Glass Ceiling, Then and Now.

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