NOW-NYC
Advocating for the Women & Girls of NYC NOW-NYC works to promote reproductive health, secure economic empowerment and end discrimination and violence against women. Learn more about our current campaigns below.
Building Women's Leadership
 The U.S. ranks 69th in the world for women's political representation (roughly 17% of Congress), and the 2010 mid-term elections dealt a huge blow to pro-choice and pro-women leadership in general. New York State has not fared better. Representation of women in the legislature has been slipping and the Senate has shifted back to a slim anti-choice majority. In a state here women make up 52% of the population, only one-fifth of legislators are women. That's why NOW-NYC's Political Action Committee has mobilized to nominate and support strong women leaders and pro-choice and pro-woman candidates. We're also empowering individual women through educational programs. Here, women learn valuable networking and negotiating skills and hear directly from successful women leaders, so that qualified women reach our board rooms and seats of power in our state and national Capitols. Learn more
Ending Violence Against Women
NOW-NYC has been a leader in holding the criminal justice system accountable for treating women survivors of sexual violence as second-class victims. In 2010, we launched a city-wide campaign to Take Rape Seriously, bringing attention to important sexual assault cases and calling for justice. In 2006, we successfully lobbied to eliminate the statute of limitations on rape. We have been a leader in the fight against human trafficking, helping to pass the milestone first-ever anti-human trafficking law in New York in 2007. We lobbied in support of the Safe Harbor Act, which directs judges to provide services and housing for the commercially sexually exploited, rather than jail and a criminal conviction. In 2010, we worked to pass a law that makes strangulation a crime - in its first two months, over 2,000 abusers were charged. We're currently advocating for the funding and implementation of these laws, and we're continuing our public education efforts on the issue. Learn More
Protecting Reproductive Rights
 NOW-NYC stands strong to protect and promote the fundamental rights of women to control their reproductive health. We’re standing up to a NYC Congressman who has voted to de-fund Planned Parenthood and in support of H.R.358, an extreme anti-choice bill that could potentially eliminate insurance coverage for abortion for millions of women. And we're fighting to stop the de-funding of our country's family planning programs. We’re also looking for volunteers to help with our clinic defense efforts across New York City. Whether you make a phone call to your legislator or become a clinic escort, there are many ways we need you to take action and get involved to stand up for choice. Learn More
Advancing Women at Work & Women's Economic Empowerment NOW-NYC supports the NYS Fair Pay Act which would require equal pay for equal or comparable work and would protect workers from retaliation for sharing salary information. We hold actions annually on Equal Pay Day to raise awareness about the inequities that still exist, and we're fighting for other reforms that would advance women at work: extending protections to caregivers, supporting paid sick leave, and rallying with local garment workers for lost wages. In 2010, we advocated for divorce reforms to improve the consistency and fairness of outcomes for women that lead to economic empowerment. We also deliver a Women & Money series of programs and education efforts. Learn More Driving Legislative Change Learn about the key pieces of legislation NOW-NYC is supporting during the 2011 legislative session. 2011 Legislative Agenda | 2010 Victories
Fighting Discrimination NOW-NYC is fighting discrimination on multiple fronts: we aim to end sexism, combat racism, and expand rights for lesbian and gay individuals. NOW-NYC has an active program to combat sexist images of women in advertising and in the media. We rallied against "extreme" photoshopping seen in Ralph Lauren's ads. We are expanding our Bias Busters program, which highlights sexist images and uses public pressure to stop them, to include specific media campaigns seen locally on the streets of NYC. Our annual Love Your Body Day program aims to celebrate positive images of women. Learn More
Helping Women In Need
 The NOW-NYC Service Fund runs a HELPLINE for women 212.627.9895 that can connect and refer women to resources throughout the city. We host legal clinics to help women with divorce and employment discrimination and we also hold a divorce financial clinic several times a year.
Get Help | Learn more about NOW-NYC Service Fund's Legal Clinics
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