Advocacy
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families and strengthen communities.
We’ve been at the forefront of the biggest issues of the day for 160 years: from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity and from violence prevention to health care reform. We carry on this long tradition of social action and advocacy to advance our mission — and you are a crucial part of this work. Your voice is critical as we advocate for policies that bring us closer to eliminating racism, empowering women, and ensuring peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
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Public Policy Priorities
YWCA USA has selected the following Federal Legislative Priorities for the 118th Congress (2022 – 2023): Safety from Gender-based Violence, Child care, Federal Budget/Appropriations, Nonprofit Support, Racial Justice, Reproductive Justice and Abortion Access, and Economic Security.
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YWCA Capitol Hill Day 2023
As part of YWCA USA’s 2023 National Conference, more than 300 advocates from 123 local associations in 42 states and the District of Columbia converged on Capitol Hill to raise our collective voice as we urged Congress to increase federal support for YWCA services and programs.
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Reproductive Justice
As we navigate a world without Roe’s constitutional protections, advocates and activists have taken to the polls, the streets, Congress, state legislatures, and the courts to push for accessible abortion care and the right to the full range of reproductive care (including contraception and pre- and post-natal care). YWCA continues to advocate to restore this essential right.
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Week Without Violence
Week Without Violence is part of a global movement with YWCAs across the country and around the world to end violence against women and girls. At YWCA, we know that not all violence is acknowledged or responded to equally and that some victims go unrecognized altogether. For more than 20 years, YWCA has set aside one week in October as a Week Without Violence. Learn More
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California VOCA Day of Action
YWCA supports the continuance and full funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). VAWA has historically received bipartisan support since 1994 and the YWCA strongly supports the continuance of this funding stream as a critical component in working with communities across the nation to address gender based violence.
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YWomen Vote
When it comes to driving social and policy change, women – particularly young women of color – are and have always been critical voices, movement makers, and activators. That’s why we prioritize making sure we’re asking our sisters which issues they are most concerned about – from quality, affordable child care to paid family and medical leave; from abortion and reproductive health justice to safety from police violence and so much more. Learn More