Today is the 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that affirmed a woman’s constitutional right to abortion. While abortion may feel like a partisan political issue today, this 7-2 decision was decided by a Supreme Court comprised of a majority of Justices appointed by Republican presidents. In fact, five of
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In 2019, CWLC authored or joined 29 amicus briefs. Some of the briefs were filed at the federal level, pushing back against harmful rules and regulations proposed by the current administration. Others related to cases spanning the country which ended up in appellate courts. Most, however, were filed here in California, reflecting the ongoing need to advocate
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Today CWLC celebrates Human Rights Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948. This Declaration was one of the first major achievements of the UN, outlining rights that recognize the “inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family.”
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Today is Latina Equal Pay Day, which marks the day in 2019 when the average wages paid to Latinas in the United States in 2018 finally catch up to what white, non-Hispanic men were paid in 2018. In 2019, the average Latina makes just 54 cents for every dollar paid to the average white, non-Hispanic man. This
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On this Veterans Day, it is with deep gratitude that CWLC recognizes those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. American women have volunteered to serve on the frontlines of battle for centuries. Some, like Deborah Sampson who was later recognized at the White House by President George Washington for her service, disguised themselves
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Read CWLC’s piece in Ms. Magazine, Wondering How to Support Women and Girls? Fill Out Your Census. The federally-mandated census will guide $1.5 trillion dollars in government spending involving more than 300 programs, and it will be used to inform electoral districts across the country. An accurate count is especially important for women, as disproportionately
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Today, our Op-Ed appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune about the dangerous role politics has been playing in women’s health care. You can read it here. For nearly three years, many states across the country have joined the White House in attacking women’s rights and passed legislation to limit reproductive health care options. In a bit of good and
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Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a victory to working women across the country by protecting employer-based coverage for birth control under the Affordable Care Act. The ACA requires employers to provide insurance that covers contraception. The Trump administration issued new rules which would have made it easier for employers with religious or moral
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In 2003, the U.S. Senate designated October as National Work and Family Month so that we, as a nation, would recognize the importance of flexible work environments and the benefits of a healthy work-life balance. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) identified a good work-life balance as one of five main factors that improve employee productivity. Managers who support
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The California Women’s Law Center is observing Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October by sharing resources such as our guide to obtaining restraining orders, and supporting survivors through an upcoming event called Handbags of Hope.  Domestic violence affects people of all income levels, races, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and religions. While domestic violence can affect anyone, women are 2.5 times more likely to
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Dear First Name, Today is the 43rd anniversary of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funding to pay for abortion services. By denying women who rely on Medicaid from having equal access to health care and reproductive options, the Hyde Amendment punishes women who are already economically vulnerable.  At CWLC, we continue
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As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we invite you to tune in tomorrow, Sept. 28th, at 5:30pm to hear CWLC Executive Director Betsy Butler discuss violence against women on The Deciders with Renee Fraser on KABC 790 AM. As you’ll hear, CWLC is teaming up with Handbags of Hope to collect new and gently used handbags filled with personal care
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Today is National Women’s Health and Fitness Day, and more than 500 groups across the country will encourage women to be healthy by hosting events at senior centers, hospitals, health clubs, park and recreation centers, schools, and other community locations.  You can join an event near you, or participate on your own by taking a
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​Today is Native Women’s Equal Pay Day in the United States, which marks how far into 2019 the average Native woman must work to earn what a white male did in 2018. On average, Native women earn only 58 cents on the dollar, and this year Native women had to work nearly 22 months to earn what an average white
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Today marks the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). On this day in 1994, Congress officially recognized violence against women as a national crisis and took steps to combat gender violence on a national level. VAWA allocated resources to create specialized training and education for law enforcement and criminal prosecutors as well
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As we confront the known and unknown challenges of COVID-19, we recognize life is dramatically more difficult for many people today than it was just a few weeks ago.  Women face discrimination on a daily basis and many are especially impacted by this crisis. The gender pay gap, the threat of domestic violence, and the
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Read our featured Op-Ed in Ms. Magazine, What This Title IX Case About Hazing Means for Women on Campus. Title IX is most known for the impact it has had on girl’s access to sports– but athletic opportunity is just one way this law enforces gender equality. A recent court case demonstrates that Title IX’s
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This week we celebrate the 47th anniversary of Title IX. On June 23, 1972, Title IX was signed into law, making it illegal for any educational program receiving federal funds to discriminate based on gender.

Last month, we scored a major win in the fight for justice and the safety of domestic violence survivors: A California woman was denied a restraining order against her abusive partner when the civil court she was petitioning refused to grant it on the basis that she already had a criminal protective order in place.
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Today marks the 56th anniversary of the passage of the Equal Pay Act, which was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1963. The Equal Pay Act sought to combat pay discrimination based on gender in the United States, acknowledging that gender discrimination is detrimental to our workforce and the economy. While the
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Wear your jeans with a purpose tomorrow. Join Peace Over Violence and millions of people around the world on April 24, to don denim in support of sexual assault survivors and send the message that sexual violence will not be tolerated. This now-annual Denim Day was sparked 20 years ago when Italian Supreme Court justices overturned
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CWLC is proud to recognize Dolores Huerta Day, celebrating Ms. Huerta’s 89th birthday! A lifelong advocate for social justice and equality on behalf of workers, immigrants, women and youth, Ms. Huerta emerged as an organizer and civil rights leader at an early age, launching the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chavez in 1962. As
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We are proud to share that a team at Winston & Strawn, including the Co-President of the CWLC Board of Directors, Diana Hughes Leiden, is leading the charge for equitable pay on behalf of the U.S. women’s national soccer team. The women’s team has endured years of gender discrimination despite their incredible success on playing
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Today is Asian American and Pacific Islander Women’s Equal Pay Day, which marks the number of days into 2019 that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women need to work to make what white, non-Hispanic men earned on average in 2018. That means AAPI women must work, on average, two extra months to make up
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            February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time for advocates to join together to raise awareness about teen dating violence, highlight efforts to combat this violence and encourage others to get involved. Each year, approximately 1.5 million high school students nationwide are victims of abuse from a dating
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Today, the California Women’s Law Center announces the release of our updated “ABC’s of Breastfeeding” report card for Los Angeles County school districts. This report card updates our 2016 publication of the ABC’s of Breastfeeding in Los Angeles County which was done in partnership with BreastfeedLA and the ACLU of Southern California. In 2015, California
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A decade ago, on January 29, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The Act amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to allow women to assert their pay equity claims by clarifying that each discriminatory paycheck resets the 180-day statute of limitations to file a claim. Before the Act was
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Today marks the 46th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade which recognized a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion. While the historic Roe decision established a woman’s right to choose nearly five decades ago, many states continue to pass laws and use other mechanisms to restrict a woman’s
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          Equality and justice were the foundation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life. In 1983, Congress and President Ronald Reagan enacted legislation to honor Dr. King’s legacy by creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Dr. King was the leader of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, heading the
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The rights and safety of women in the United States continue to be challenged. Over the last two years, the current administration has marginalized American women and girls on several fronts, and now Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has proposed new regulations that will strip away vital protections for survivors of sexual assault and harassment
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        On this Veterans Day, the California Women’s Law Center would like to recognize the sacrifice our service members and their families have made in protecting our nation. As we acknowledge our veterans for their heroism and service to country, CWLC remains committed to being an advocate for those who have bravely
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            Today is Latina Equal Pay Day, marking the day in 2018 when the average wages paid to Latinas in the United States in 2017 finally catches up to that paid to white, non-Hispanic men in 2017. Nationally, Latinas working year-round and full-time in 2017 earned 54 cents on average
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                In 1989, Congress passed legislation designating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). The California Women’s Law Center observes DVAM to spread awareness, share resources and support victims.  Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior that can be physical, verbal, sexual, emotional or economic, and
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Today is Native Women’s Equal Pay Day, which marks the number of additional days in 2018 that Native women on average must work to make what their white male counterparts earned in 2017. In California, Native women  working year-round and full-time are typically paid only 57 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men,
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By passing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on September 13th, 1994, Congress confirmed that violence against women is a national crisis and effectively combating it is a national priority. VAWA created a vital network of services for female victims of violence and established specialized training for prosecutors and law enforcement officers investigating this type
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                  Today is Women’s Equality Day which recognizes the adoption of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution granting women the right to vote. As we celebrate the great strides women have made toward achieving equality over the past century, we know much work remains to be
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The California Women’s Law Center, with co-counsel Legal Aid at Work and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, reached agreement in a Title IX athletics dispute involving female athletes at Sierra Vista High School in the Baldwin Park Unified School District. Girls’ volleyball players were forced to practice in an unsafe space in the gym while
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                  Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which marks the number of additional days in 2018 that Black women on average must work to make what their white male counterparts earned in 2017. In California, Black women working year-round and full-time are paid on average 63
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          The rights of women in the United States are under attack. Over the last two years, the current administration has repeatedly taken aim at women’s reproductive rights and health care options, including allowing employers to refuse to provide birth control for their employees, cutting funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs,
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The California Women’s Law Center is disappointed by the recent 5-4 Supreme Court decision that California’s Reproductive FACT Act is likely to be unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds. Passed by the California legislature in 2015, the FACT Act sought to protect pregnant women from the deceptive and harmful practices of “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” (CPCs) by
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