March 9, 2021
Ms. Foundation on President Biden Establishing the White House Gender Policy Council and Ensuring Education Free from Sexual Violence
Ms. Foundation on President Biden Establishing the White House Gender Policy Council and Ensuring Education Free from Sexual Violence
NEW YORK (March 8, 2021) – Ms. Foundation for Women President and CEO Teresa C. Younger released the following statement in response to President Biden signing executive orders establishing a Gender Policy Council and ensuring education will be free from sexual violence:
“The Ms. Foundation for Women is thrilled to be celebrating the Biden-Harris Administration’s steps towards ensuring gender equality and equity in the United States and around the world.
“President Biden’s signature of two executive orders – to establish the White House Gender Policy Council and to ensure education free from sexual violence – firmly positions the administration’s focus on uplifting the rights of women and girls.
“Women’s issues – from equal pay, sexual harassment, reproductive health and child care – are all of our issues, and cannot be separated from other key administrative priorities. The creation of the Gender Policy Council, which also recognizes the importance of centering women and girls of color in policies and programs to achieve equity for all, is the first step in tackling this crucial work.
“At this time, it’s critically important to recognize that women have been disproportionately impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic – particularly women of color, many of whom are on the frontlines of the public health crisis – and have been underpaid, undervalued, and ultimately abandoned by the lack of an economic and social safety net. Just last month, it was reported that nearly three million women across the country have left the labor force over the past year, a devastating statistic that only skims the surface of the serious ramifications that this pandemic will have toward gender equity.
“While more work must be done, the Ms. Foundation for Women and our grantee partners commend the Biden-Harris Administration for prioritizing gender equality at the start of their term. After four years of the previous administration’s attempts to dismantle progress toward gender equity, we’re excited to see movement in the right direction on these initiatives, and are looking forward to working with the White House Gender Policy Council to have intentional and strategic conversations around gender justice and how to best advance this work.”
Ms. Foundation spokespeople are available for interviews by phone or video from NYC. To schedule, please contact Sunshine Sachs at [email protected].
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For over 45 years, the Ms. Foundation for Women has worked to build women’s collective power in the U.S. to advance equity and justice for all. The Ms. Foundation invests in and strengthens the capacity of women-led movements to advance meaningful social, cultural, and economic change in women’s lives. With equity and inclusion as the cornerstones of true democracy, the Ms. Foundation works to create a world where every person’s worth and dignity are valued, and power and possibility are not limited by gender, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or age.