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Tell City Council that Sexual Violence Programs are Critical to the Well-Being and Saftey of All New Yorkers! New York City has eliminated all funding for sexual violence victims services and prevention programs. The recently passed budget did not alloacte funds to the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, as well as three citywide programs- SAVI, the St. Luke's-Roosevelt Intervention Program in Manhattan, and the only long-term treatment program for sexually abused children at the Bronx's Kingsbridge Heights Community Center. The elimination of funding for sexual violence programs accounts for only .001% of the city's $63.1 billion budget. Sexual violence is a health, human rights, and public saftey issue. Urge your Council Members to reinstate funding for sexual violence programming today! Contact Speaker Christine Quinn! Contact your City Council Member! ...............................................................................................................Tell the White House That It's Discriminatory to Deny Abortion Access to
Women with Pre-existing Conditions
Call the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services On July 14, the Obama Administration issued a statement explicitly banning abortion coverage from the new "high-risk pool" insurance plans that will be put into place until the health exchanges are established in 2014. What is so alarming is that the women covered by these plans would have pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes, breast cancer, or other health problems, and they are the group most likely to suffer complications during pregnancy. While there is an exception in the policy in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment, there is no exception for health. Women will not even be allowed to use their own funds to pay for an abortion in the state or federal high-risk pool plans. This decision was not forced by previous legislation, and goes beyond any established restrictions. The Hyde Amendment restriction on federal funds does not specifically apply to the high-risk pools, however, the Obama administration has voluntarily adopted this policy. We need your help to reverse it.
Take Action NOW!
Send a message to President Obama (202) 456-1111 and
to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius (877) 696-6775
Link to Associated Press Article Discussing Ban Link to Congresswoman Maloney's Letter to Obama Condemning the Order Sample Text: I ask that you immediately reverse the decision on banning abortion coverage from the high risk pool insurance plans. This policy will ban insurance coverage for abortion for the women most at risk for life-threatening or lasting health complications from pregnancy. This policy effectively bars full health care access for those who may need it most, and this is unacceptable. ............................................................................................................... Sexism Invades iPhone Apps
The new digital and interactive frontier is becoming a playground in which to exploit women. Numbers of misogynistic apps are being created each day and rushed to a receptive market. And now with the introduction of the iPad already reaching over 600,000 in sales since its release just this April, reports show that Apple application downloads are dramatically climbing, indicating the market for Apple’s apps is just getting bigger.
The most shocking revelation is Apple’s role in supporting this trend through an inconsistent and opaque approval process that has given a green light to a variety of sexist apps. Apple is the final arbiter and actually does have to approve ALL iPhone and iPad applications that are available through its iStore. Read more in our Spring 2010 Newsletter.
Apple must be held responsible for fueling sexism through its product's Applications. We need all NOW-NYC members and friends to get involved. If we’re loud enough, we can get some real results. The only way to fight stereotypes is to take action against them! Here’s how you can help:
............................................................................................................... Ratify CEDAW!Contact Your Senators!
CEDAW, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, is a United Nations treaty that sets out internationally-accepted principles that uphold women's rights. Countries that ratify CEDAW must incorporate the equality of men and women in their legal systems, abolish discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones, establish tribunals to ensure the protection of women, and eliminate acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises. It is also “the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations”.
The only countries who have not ratified CEDAW are Somalia, Nauru, Palau, Qatar, Sudan, Iran and the United States. It is key for the U.S. to ratify CEDAW, as other countries may follow by example. Read more. YOU can ensure CEDAW is ratified in the United States! - Voice your opinion to the people who count on you for votes, your Senators in Congress.
- Find your Senators' contact information here.
- Contact the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - those who voted against CEDAW, those who voted in favor, and especially those who did not make a decision.
- Write to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (secretary@state.gov), to thank her for the efforts she has taken to encourage CEDAW ratification and enrougage her continued efforts.
- Talk about it! Tell every woman you know, tell every man you know. Let people know that this law exists because women need it around the world, and almost every other part of the world now has it, except for the U.S. All eyes are on us.
NOW and CEDAW.
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