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Dear Friends of CWLC:
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, the California Women’s Law Center wishes you and yours a very happy holiday and a healthy new year.
CWLC thanks you for supporting our mission. This year your assistance was more important than ever in our effort to break down barriers and advance the potential of women and girls through transformative litigation, policy advocacy, and education. Without a doubt, 2018 has been a challenging year for the most vulnerable among us, and unfortunately women and families continue to struggle in their fight for equal pay, fair treatment, health care, suitable housing and safe neighborhoods, as well as their ability to access justice.
In 2018, CWLC advanced our commitment to women’s economic security and health, Title IX enforcement, and the rights and needs of women veterans. We remain on the frontlines of the fight against gender discrimination, domestic violence and economic injustice. And, with your help, the California Women’s Law Center strengthened and expanded our march toward equality and our pursuit of justice for women and girls.
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Women’s Health and Safety – Standing Up for Survivors
At our 2018 Pursuit of Justice Awards luncheon, we recognized Rita Hall and Handbags of Hope, It’s On Us, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, and Lois Thompson for their commitment to end sexual harassment and violence against women throughout the state. CWLC is grateful for these impactful individuals and organizations who are working to ensure the lives of others are safer, healthier, and more equitable.
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In September, CWLC released A Guide to Federal and California State Sexual Discrimination, Harassment, and Assault Laws, our comprehensive legal guide that identifies, outlines and explains the different legal claims that can be brought for sexual discrimination, harassment, and assault under federal and state law. The Guide was created to help survivors and their advocates determine the legal options that work best for them, and it can be used by both attorneys and non-attorneys. To download the Guide, please visit our website by clicking here.
Ensuring Equality in Schools
CWLC continues to grow our expertise in Title IX enforcement at California schools and colleges. We advocate on behalf of students for equal treatment by providing trainings to students, educators, administrators, and attorneys on athletics, campus sexual assault, teen pregnancy and breastfeeding accommodations.
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Advancing our work to ensure girls in California have equal opportunities and treatment on the playing field remains a priority for CWLC. This year we engaged in negotiations with five school districts throughout the state to successfully implement numerous changes to ensure female athletes are treated equitably.
We remain on the frontlines of the fight to end discrimination against pregnant and parenting students and school employees in California. CWLC has made extensive progress in our effort to ensure the 81 Los Angeles County school districts have proper and accessible lactation policies in place, as well as an easily identifiable Title IX Coordinator so students and employees have access to the information they need.
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Economic Security – Lower Income and Aging Women
CWLC remains committed to addressing the economic security and elder justice needs of California’s aging population. With 34,000 people a month turning 65 in our state, the challenges facing our older population are vast and diverse. Because women on average are paid less than men for the same work over their lifetime, women frequently do not have enough money for retirement which contributes to present and future economic insecurity. In addition, the time women take off to care for family members is not recognized in governmental assistance programs, including social security. Combined, lost wages for women in California totaled more than $78.6 billion in 2018. CWLC is addressing the challenges women and families face by increasing outreach, education, and training on the issues that disproportionately impoverish women in California.
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CWLC continues to help address the housing crisis in Los Angeles by hosting a free tenants’ rights legal clinic in partnership with Venice Housing Corporation. Held the third Saturday of every month, the clinic is staffed by experienced housing attorneys who provide consultation and free legal advice to those in need. Our primary service population has been lower income, older women and their families.
Empowering Women – Amicus Briefs and Trainings
Every year, CWLC participates in dozens of amicus briefs. This summer we filed a brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in support of California’s FACT Act, a law pertaining to the limited and harmful practices that “crisis pregnancy centers” in California promote. We also filed several briefs in the California Supreme Court and California Court of Appeal in support of domestic violence victims, and a brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of a campus sexual assault victim.
CWLC also conducted trainings on Title IX athletics, campus sexual assault and harassment, the rights of pregnant and parenting students and employees in California schools, the future of reproductive health care in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s FACT Act decision, and housing accommodations for disabled veterans.
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On behalf of the people we have been able to assist in 2018, we thank you for supporting the California Women’s Law Center and our effort to break down barriers and advance the potential of women and girls.
We are hopeful that 2019 will be a more equitable year for all. We have much work to do and your help is more important than ever. By working together, our pursuit of justice will be realized faster and on an even broader scale.
Please click here to make a tax-deductible gift to CWLC.
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