The representatives from the Income Security and Child Care team explained that the House budget resolution proposes funding cuts to offset policies like attacking immigrant families and creating tax cuts for the wealthiest people and corporations. Although House Republicans have promised not to touch social service programs like Medicaid, the resolution advances a budget that cuts trillions of dollars for the committees that administer these programs, which may leave these committees no choice but to reduce or eliminate their services.

As such, programs like Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF); Social Services Block Grant (SSBG); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); Medicaid; and the Child Tax Credit are at risk. Social services are crucial to millions of women and children across the U.S. because they provide food assistance, healthcare, and federal funding to states for additional services. These programs also make it easier for families to afford childcare, which has been “prohibitively expensive” for many Americans in recent years.

NWLC is working to push back on harmful tax proposals like this one and minimize the damage to women, families, and the economy by educating the public on what these programs and tax changes will mean for everyday people. Through their collaborations with state advocates and constituents, they are facilitating conversations with congressional delegations on why the federal budget is important to the American people and emphasizing the real-world impacts of the changing budget. The Center is also promoting policy solutions that will help women and families, such as accessible childcare, raising taxes on the wealthy, and expanding a child tax credit. Members of the Income Security and Child Care team emphasized that childcare helps child development, stimulates the economy, and helps parents go to work, so it is beneficial to all people.

Politico recently reported that the Senate is unlikely to take up negotiations over the House budget resolution before the end of March, which is necessary to reach a compromise with the House. It will focus on funding the government before the projected shutdown date of March 14. The Feminist Majority Foundation encourages concerned constituents to call their Congressional representatives about the importance of securing funding for women and families. As Fatima Goss Graves said during the briefing, “I believe firmly that the antidote to fear is joining together in community in solidarity…Courage inspires more courage, and we are beginning to see that more and more.”

Originally published by the Feminist Majority Foundation.

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WASHINGTON–One of the top priorities for the new Congress is the so-called “SAVE Act,” which doesn’t save—it destroys. 

And once again, women will be among the first to find their rights taken away. 

Instead of safeguarding the right to vote it jeopardizes the freedom of millions by making it harder—or impossible—to access the ballot. 

The SAVE Act demands that voter registration applicants produce proof of citizenship documents—in person!   

That would functionally destroy mail registration, and impact more than 21.3 million people of voting age who don’t have proof of citizenship available. 

The fact is, most married women cannot present a valid birth certificate under the SAVE Act, as it does not display their current legal name. 

Just like that—the SAVE act threatens the vote for as many as 69 million women who have taken their spouse’s name but do not have a matching birth certificate.  

And the SAVE act would make voting harder for seniors, adoptees, students, tribal citizens, low-income earners, active-duty military, voters of color, and more than 60 million people who live in rural areas by eliminating online voter registration overnight. 

Let’s not forget—every ounce of the “voting integrity” movement is built on lies.  A study of the 2016 election found that officials referred only an estimated 30 incidents of suspected noncitizen voting for further investigation or prosecution. 

But that’s enough for the backers of the SAVE Act—who only want to save their power over who gets to vote and whose votes are denied.   

The SAVE Act is a nightmare, a threat, and another blatant attempt by powerful interests and extremist politicians to disenfranchise millions of American citizens— 

Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike.  NOW calls on Congress to keep democracy safe and reject the SAVE Act. 

Originally published by National Organization for Women

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On March 8th, International Women’s Day:
Greetings to the Women of the World

With the selection of anti-women personalities like Donald Trump in the United States, Women for Racial and Economic Equality stands in solidarity with all women struggling to maintain their hard-won rights.

“Forward ever, backward never!” – Maurice Bishop, revolutionary leader of Grenada

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Like most in the United States, you are probably trying to process the dangerous list of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump immediately after being sworn into office yesterday. While it is a lot to take in, now is not the time to retreat. Now is the time to show up for peace and justice and demand the better world we deserve. And that is precisely what CODEPINK Chapters across the country did the past few days by participating in nationwide rallies, protests, and marches. 

We took to the streets during the inauguration week, from Jan. 18-20, bringing the message of peace and the urgent need to end the funding of wars and move the money to the needs of the people. 

On Saturday, our DC team kicked off the days of action by joining the People’s March for Peace, Justice, and Equality. DC organizer Adnaan Stumo explained why it was important to show up:

“We are here as a CODEPINK contingent because it is not enough to say we are against one president or another. We are here to dismantle the imperialist state, to stop the endless wars that the U.S. is committed to starting all over the world, and to say you cannot be bombing women in other countries and call yourself a feminist.”

On Sunday, the team brought their message to Union Station. There, they welcomed inauguration attendees to DC, where they found common ground with some Trump supporters they engaged with: people want an end to war. 

As snow covered DC on Monday and the billionaire class gathered in the rotunda to watch Donald Trump take the presidency, CODEPINK joined the We Fight Back march and rally at Malcolm X Park to demand a peaceful future that centers the needs of the people over interests of the wealthy elite. CODEPINK’s campaign manager, Makayla Hester, spoke at the rally. 

“We have to make a commitment to show up for each other regardless of who is in office. And that’s not just a commitment we made here today, or a year ago, or two years ago. We have made that commitment since the movement began.” 

While much of the media was focused on DC, CODEPINK chapters rallied, marched, and tabled in their communities nationwide because we know the fight for peace and justice starts at home. While the extreme weather forced actions in Chicago and Milwaukee to be canceled, we were still able to show up for peace and liberation in multiple cities! 

In NYC, thousands came together for their own We Fight Back march and rally, where we joined the antiwar contingent! With the news of the recent ceasefire agreement, we marched to honor the martyrs and stand together with Palestinians around the world, united in the hope of an actual ceasefire. CODEPINK NYC emphasized the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the occupation, showing solidarity with Palestinians in their liberation struggle.

CODEPINK Missouri braved the frigid weather to bring the message of peace and justice to the St. Louis We Fight Back march and rally.

Deep in the heart of Texas, CODEPINK Dallas centered the demand for a permanent ceasefire at their local march and rally. 

Members of CODEPINK Reno took to the streets in Carson City with messages of peace. 

CODEPINK Las Vegas showed up with big, bright, beautiful signs advocating for love not war and a Free Palestine.

Over on the West Coast, CODEPINK Sacramento and CODEPINK Inland Empire joined their local People’s Marches. Inland Empire marched in Riverside to make it clear that international feminism is for all and Palestine is a feminist issue. They also gave information about our Mask Off Maersk campaign to educate and activate the community.

In Sacramento, the newly formed CODEPINK chapter took the opportunity to table outside their local march and rally to introduce CODEPINK to the community.

On Monday, CODEPINK joined their local march and rally with a more personal message: Fight Fires, Not Wars! Thousands came together to demand full compensation to victims from L.A., and state officials and CODEPINK LA members were there to make the connections between the U.S. military and the climate crisis.

This year is full of uncertainty, but CODEPINK members set the tone for responding in the past few days: Show up! Be loud! Demand an end to all wars! Demand an end to occupations and genocide! Demand accountability! A better world is not only possible but necessary, and we won’t stop organizing until we get it.

JOIN THE FEMINIST ANTIWAR MOVEMENT AND ORGANIZE WITH US FOR A BETTER WORLD FREE FROM WAR! 

Originally published by CodePink – https://www.codepink.org/j20reportback

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According to the International Labor Organization, $236 billion is made each year from human trafficking—or nearly $7,500 every second!  Women and girls make up 54% of all victims worldwide, and are 78% of victims of forced commercial sexual exploitation.  Here’s a fact sheet from Hope For Justice, which runs anti-trafficking projects all over the world.

There are estimated to be more than 27.6 million people—children and adults—subjected to sex trafficking around the world, including in the United States.  Human trafficking often intersects with domestic violence, creating compounded layers of trauma for survivors.

What’s more, in a report from the Congressional Black Caucus titled, “Snapshot of the State of Black Women and Girls:  Sex Trafficking in the U.S.,” the authors wrote:

“Research has indicated the continued sexualization of Black women and girls’ bodies, which has played out since slavery. The myths around Black women and girls’ hypersexuality and the continued treatment of Black girls as older than their age must be explored when looking at the data surrounding the prevalent rates of domestic sex trafficking of Black girls.”

We need to end this crisis NOW and stop the sexualization, slavery and human trafficking that continues to put women and girls in danger.  NOW members are working to strengthen legislation to address human trafficking awareness and survivor support, bring traffickers to justice and make them pay.

You can find out more about ways to participate in National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month here.

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Dear Ambassadors,

Ahead of this year’s annual open debate on women, peace and security (WPS), and one year before the 25^th anniversary of Resolution 1325 (2000), we write to you as civil society organizations dedicated to peace, women’s rights and gender equality to urge you to redouble your efforts to fulfill the highest ideals of the WPS agenda.

Today, we are confronted with record levels of armed conflict, militarization and military spending, which undermine gender equality, threaten to reverse decades of progress on women’s rights, and jeopardize global efforts for peace. Women and marginalized groups bear the brunt of conflicts and crises, including conflict-related sexual violence, poverty, forced displacement and hunger. Increased militarization has been accompanied by multi-pronged assaults on universal norms, especially international human rights and humanitarian law; on women human rights defenders and civil society space; and on democracy itself. Further, an escalating global backlash against gender justice and the human rights and bodily autonomy of women and LGBTQIA+^[1] people, compounded by their systematic exclusion from international decision-making and peacemaking, means that those most adversely affected by armed conflict are also those whose voices are most marginalized.

The WPS agenda’s vision of peace and equality^[2] has never been so important — or so under threat.

The cost of the international community’s failure to fully implement the WPS agenda over the past 24 years can be measured in lives lost, rights denied and conflicts prolonged. Yet, feminist movements continue to fight back against misogyny and repression for a more just and peaceful future. They refuse to accept anything less than their rights — and neither should you.

The UN Security Council cannot afford to let another anniversary pass without meaningful progress on protecting women’s rights in conflict. We therefore urge you to take decisive action in the following 10 areas and implement them in all crises on its agenda^[3]:

1. Prevent, avert and end conflict. Ending violence is the most effective means to protect the rights of women and girls in all conflicts and crises. As enshrined in the UN Charter, it is the primary responsibility of the Security Council to maintain peace and security. Conflict prevention requires addressing the gendered drivers of conflict, including patriarchy; all forms of inequality, including socioeconomic inequality; multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination; exclusion; and violation of human rights. There is no situation in which gender equality and women’s rights are not relevant. We therefore urge the Security Council to ensure that the rights of women and girls are fundamental to all international peace and security processes, including its own decisions, without exception. Further, the Council must uphold international human rights and humanitarian law, and all relevant Security Council resolutions, including on WPS, and step up preventive diplomacy to ensure inclusive, gender-responsive, long-term and peaceful resolution to all conflicts.
2. Reform the Security Council. The credibility of the Security Council to meaningfully fulfill its mandate has been fundamentally shaken by its inability to effectively address conflicts, including, most recently, Israel’s brutal war in Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both of which have had devastating consequences for the rights of women and marginalized communities. We urge you to commit to Security Council reform in order to build a more representative, transparent, democratic and accountable multilateral system that can effectively deliver on the UN Charter’s promise of peace. This should include credible, timely and decisive Security Council action to prevent or end the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and lead to ending the use of the veto on resolutions aimed at stopping mass atrocities. We further urge you to sign the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group’s Code of Conduct, thereby pledging not to vote against a credible draft resolution before the Security Council aimed at stopping such crimes.
3. Stop arms transfers when there is a substantial risk that they may be used to “commit or facilitate serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children,” or if Member States have knowledge or should have known at the time of authorization that they would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, attacks directed against civilians or civilian objects, or other war crimes, in line with the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Compliance with obligations and norms on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation^[4] is critical to conflict prevention, and backsliding on disarmament commitments risks future violence. States have a legal obligation to comply with arms embargoes imposed by the Security Council. We further urge you to cut military spending and instead increase funding for gender equality and global humanitarian responses to ensure no needs go unmet.
4. Defend women’s human rights. Women’s civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, as enshrined in international law and Security Council resolutions, are the foundation of the WPS agenda.^[5] The Security Council must therefore center human rights, especially the rights of women, girls and LGBTQIA+ people, in all peace and security discussions, processes and decisions; take coordinated action to counter gender backlash; and reject any outcomes that undermine women’s rights. Council members must also consistently, and publicly, demand that warring parties and other relevant actors immediately abolish any laws, policies or practices that prevent or restrict the full enjoyment of women’s human rights in accordance with international standards.
5. Advance reproductive justice. Reproductive autonomy, and the right to live in safe, peaceful and sustainable communities, is essential for women in conflicts and crises everywhere. We urge Security Council members to protect and uphold sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in accordance with international standards, including relevant WPS resolutions, in all conflict situations on its agenda.^[6] We further urge you to politically and financially support comprehensive, high quality and non-discriminatory SRHR services, including access to contraception, safe abortion and maternal health care, and fully integrate these rights into crisis prevention, response and recovery plans.
6. Insist on women at the table. Women have the right to full and equal representation.^[7] Politically and financially support the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation and leadership of diverse women^[8] at all levels and stages of decision-making, with the target of 50%.^[9] In particular, we urge you to prioritize women’s direct participation in formal Track 1 or high-level peace and political processes, especially the meaningful representation of women human rights defenders, peacebuilders and feminist movements. Women must be able to influence the outcome and implementation of negotiations, across all issues. Further, demand the equal, direct and influential participation of women as a standard requirement across all UN-supported peace processes and convenings.^[10] The Security Council, the UN and Member States must not endorse, facilitate, participate in or support peace or political processes where women are excluded.
7. Support principled humanitarian action. Ensure gender-responsive, locally-led humanitarian action, and safe, unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations of all genders and diversities, as required by international humanitarian law. A principled humanitarian response is only possible when it centers non-discrimination and the fundamental human rights and participation of diverse women.^[11] Allowing discriminatory laws, policies and practices to determine or impose constraints on how humanitarian actors operate — such as by deploying male-only response teams or denying access to services based on sexual orientation and gender identity — undermines humanitarian principles, limits access to diverse women and girls, reinforces exclusion and further threatens women’s rights. Support diverse women’s participation in the design and implementation of, and all decision-making on, humanitarian action.
8. Demand justice and accountability. All violations of women’s rights, including all forms of gender-based violence, conflict-related sexual violence and attacks against women human rights defenders, must be publicly condemned, thoroughly and swiftly investigated, and perpetrators held accountable. Respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, including compliance with provisional measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ); upholding the obligation to prevent genocide; and ending impunity, are paramount obligations of Member States and essential for securing justice for survivors. We urge you to pursue accountability strategies that center gender, including by considering codifying gender apartheid, supporting prosecutions of gender persecution at the International Criminal Court, and ensuring accountability for violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at the ICJ. All justice and accountability efforts, including reparations processes, must be rights-based and survivor-centered, in order to avoid replicating harm, promote recovery and address root causes of violations, such as discrimination and inequality.
9. Stand with feminist movements, the heart of the WPS agenda. The UN and all Member States must commit to and fully implement a zero-tolerance approach^[12] to any form of attack, intimidation, retaliation or reprisal against diverse women for their political participation, human rights and humanitarian work, peacebuilding activities or cooperation with UN mechanisms, including the Security Council. However, protection must never compromise participation. It is critical that independent and diverse women civil society and human rights defenders continue to inform all peace and security policymaking, including Security Council discussions;^[13] that their independent selection and views are fully respected; and, most importantly, that their recommendations are acted upon.
10. Fund peace, not war. Increase funding to local women-led, women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ organizations, networks and movements, and support initiatives that promote gender equality and feminist leadership. Provide direct, accessible, long-term and flexible funding to, and promote partnerships with, women civil society, in order for them to work safely, sustainably and effectively, free of impediments.^[14] Meet the minimum target of earmarking 15% of funds for programs that advance gender equality and allocate a minimum of 1% of overseas development assistance for women’s rights and women-led peacebuilding organizations by 2025 with a firm commitment to increasing it in the future.^[15] We further urge you, as donors, to support the independence and integrity of civil society organizations, especially organizations working on contested issues, to ensure that they are able to sustain their indispensable work, free of obstacles or interference.

Over the last 24 years, women civil society, including human rights defenders, peacebuilders and feminist movements, have stood on the frontlines of conflict: advocating for peace, elevating the voices of affected communities, and speaking truth to power — all while charting a clear path toward more just, equal and peaceful societies. Ahead of the 25^th anniversary of Resolution 1325, the women, girls and LGBTQIA+ people of Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Western Sahara, Yemen and all other crises on the Security Council’s agenda will be looking to you to deliver on 25 years of promises.

Originally published by the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security – https://www.womenpeacesecurity.org/

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In 2025, the global community will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).

The sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 21 March 2025.

Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world are invited to attend the session.

Themes

The main focus of the sixty-ninth session will be on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. The review will include an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women, as well as its contribution to the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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The report also shows that almost one out of every five adult women in Israel was harmed by violence or a crime against them in 2023. More than half a million women, who make up 17.5% of all women aged 20 and over, reported that they were harmed last year by crimes of various types. The CBS data indicates that there is no difference in the rate of victims of sexual harassment between the religious and traditional public and the secular public.

Also according to the data, in 2023 32 women were murdered on criminal grounds or due to their gender – femicide, in 11 of the cases the suspect of the murder is a spouse (34%), in seven cases the suspect is another family member (22%) and in 14 cases the suspect is not relative (44%)

It should be noted that since the beginning of the war, a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of violence against women has been identified in the Vizo organization. The consequences do not remain only in the home arena but affect everyone who comes in daily contact with the victims, especially colleagues at their workplace. In light of the survey data conducted by the organization Witzo launched a campaign calling on employers to take an active part in the fight against the phenomenon under the title “Domestic violence is your business”.

In response to a question addressed to victims of domestic violence in a Vizo survey, it appears that 73% of them “feel protected from violence when they are at work.” 35% report that the violence at home greatly affects their ability to get to work, and many of those who do manage to maintain a work routine report fatigue and lack of concentration, avoidance of professional relationships, decreased work capacity and multiple absences. Only 23% of them asked for assistance from their workplace.

The Edva Center and the Public Housing Forum also published a document on the occasion of the International Day of the Struggle for the Prevention of Violence Against Women, centered on: the difficulty of women and children in the circle of violence to obtain a safe roof over their heads – which is a major barrier against leaving violent relationships. In the absence of a policy that would create alternatives and solutions in the field of housing for these women and their children, many women are forced to continue living in a house that has become dangerous.

In the position paper, the organizations demand the expansion of housing assistance mechanisms for women victims of violence and their children, which was submitted this year to the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women and Gender Equality in the Knesset.

The joint document calls on the government to recognize victims of domestic violence as entitled to public housing and to significantly expand the rent assistance amounts to which female victims of violence are entitled and to recognize a larger circle of victims of violence as entitled to housing assistance. The government is also required to act actively to exercise rights among victims of violence in general, and among victims of violence in Arab society in particular. It is also proposed to establish that women victims of violence will be entitled to an additional living allowance – until their economic independence is guaranteed.

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HUNDREDS of women and allies in Britain joined the International Women’s Strike today to demand systemic changes that “prioritize the survival and well-being over profit.”

The strike, led by Global Women’s Strike (GWS) and the Women Rising coalition began yesterday and will see a range of actions take place until October 30.

It commemorated the 1975 Icelandic women’s strike where women stop their unwaged and waged work, bringing the country to a halt.

The actions aim to highlight the essential contribution of women, mothers and caregivers in society, advocate for peace, liberation and justice, as well as affirm commitment to women in Palestine to demand an end to all genocides.

In Britain, it kicked off with a banner drop over Westminster Bridge in London with the message: “Women make life, invest in caring not genocide” followed by a march past Parliament, the Home Office, other department buildings.

An afternoon strike also took place in front of the “Imagine Peace” sign in Newcastle.

Tara of the Women Rising coalition, who only gave her first name, said: “The struggles of women, caregivers and those fighting for justice are often overlooked.

“With this strike and by uniting our struggles, we create a louder, more powerful call for change to transform societies.

“This strike is a stepping stone towards the 50th anniversary of the Icelandic women’s strike next year.”

Support not Separation’s Didi, who also only gave her first name, said: “Our group is striking to demand better financial support for mothers enabling families to stay together, the end of forced adoptions and for open family courts.”

And Lisa of Women Against Rape said: “We strike for an end to sexual, domestic and racist violence, including by police and others in authority.

“And an end to poverty and insecure immigration status, which make us more vulnerable to violence.”

More than 27 women-led groups are involved in the action, including Women of Colour in GWS, All African Women’s Group, Disabled Mothers’ Rights Campaign, English Collective of Prostitutes, Fossil Free London, Queer Strike, Extinction Rebellion Families and Tipping Point.

Tomorrow will see a family friendly activity in Trafalgar Square, London, to highlight the invisible labour carried out by women.

A full list of actions can be found on the Women Rising website.

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