Strengthening Women's Rights in New York

From the time of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, New York State has had a long and proud history as a national leader with respect to women's rights.

Building upon this legacy, the State Senate took action today on two bills designed to further protect and enhance the rights of women in New York.

These measures are key components of the State Senate's Women's Equality Agenda -- a groundbreaking series of nine bills that will empower women and break down barriers that perpetuate discrimination and inequality based on gender.

The first measure, S.5879B, tackles the devastating and deplorable human rights violation that is human trafficking. The “Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act” enhances protections for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, especially children. The bill will also hold accountable the criminal buyers and traffickers who are fueling the growth of this reprehensible underground industry.

The second measure, S.5880, would require employers in New York State to accommodate the needs of pregnant women in the workplace, helping to ensure the protection of their full rights under the law.

It took a bipartisan effort in the State Senate to pass these important bills, but we still need the State Assembly to take action so that they can become law.

That's why I hope you will join my effort to encourage the Assembly's Democrat leadership to do the right thing and stop holding the Women's Equality Agenda hostage to partisan politics.

Women throughout New York State have waited long enough. It's time to finally pass the State Senate's Women's Equality Agenda into law.

For additional details on the Women's Equality Agenda, please visit: www.nysenate.gov/video/2013/sep/18/strengthening-womens-rights-new-york.

Warmest regards,

Senator Cathy Young