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Social Action and Advocacy are the cornerstones of the YWCA. Since our inception almost 150 years ago, “service” has been linked to “action.” In communities across the United States, YWCAs continue to work to improve social and economic conditions for all people. As the nation’s oldest and largest national movement, the YWCA is comprised of over 300 local associations, regional leadership and a national office in Washington D.C. - - who all work together, across the nation, to strengthen our voices in the nation’s capital and in state and local governments.
The YWCA brings first hand knowledge of how federal level policies and programs affect women, girls, and their families in communities across the country. Historically the YWCA has fought for issues such as the abolition of child labor, the 8-hour workday, and desegregation.
Elimination of Racism
The YWCA supports policies that contribute to the elimination of
racism. This includes, but is not limited to, policies that eliminate
racial profiling, increase immigrant rights, retain and strengthen
affirmative action, reduce hate crimes and result in increased
education on racism and its elimination.
Hate Crimes
The YWCA supports the passage of Hate Crimes legislation that protects
people from harassment, violence and other crimes on the basis of race,
sex, gender, religion, ethnicity, age, disability, or sexual
orientation.
Violence Against Women
The YWCA supports anti-violence policies that protect victims, hold
perpetrators accountable, and work to eradicate sexual assault and
domestic violence, trafficking of women, and dating violence.
Specifically, we support the continuance and increased funding for the
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The
YWCA also supports legislation that ensures employment stability and
economic security for victims of violence against women.
Affordable, Accessible Early Childhood Education
The YWCA supports quality, affordable and accessible early
childhood education that will empower adults and children towards
economic and emotional self-sufficiency.
Increasing Women's Income
The YWCA supports the implementation of initiatives to increase the
income of women via living wage campaigns, support for equal pay/pay
equity, overtime campaigns, appropriate and informed social security
reform, and maintenance of earned income tax credits.
Reauthorization & Reform of TANF/Welfare
The YWCA supports the economic empowerment of women through the
reauthorization and reform of TANF/welfare to make TANF more accessible
and egalitarian as part of a larger anti-poverty strategy. The YWCA
supports an anti-poverty approach to welfare reform and opposes
marriage promotion/incentives and any other policies or regulations
that reduce a woman's right of autonomy.
Today, the YWCA carries on their long tradition in social action and advocacy to meet the twin goals of women and girl’s empowerment and racial justice.
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