Action Alert: Sign the Online Petition in support of the Child Victims Act of New York

Sign the Online Petition in support of the Child Victims Act of New York:

The Child Victims Act of New York will:

* Expose UNKNOWN AND SHIELDED predators by suspending the statute of limitations for just one year, allowing cases to be revived.
* Provide justice for victims who were unfairly or criminally denied their day in court.
* The limit would be 35 years after age 18.
* Provide additional time for future victims to overcome their trauma, extending the SOL from age 23 to 28.
* Applies to all sectors, public and private
* Save our state extensive financial and social costs by reducing the number of victims and abusers


Download a message from the author of the Child Victims Act, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey:
http://www.sol-reform.com/images/CVA-Markey-Jul09.pdf

For updates on the Child Victims Act of New York, visit:
http://www.sol-reform.com/
http://www.sol-reform.com/Pages/Resources-NY.html


Posted by,
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
NOW-NYS Young Feminist Task Force Chair
National Organization for Women (NOW)

Action Alert: Pass Child Victims Act of NY - Urge NYS Legislature and Governor Paterson

Reminder from NOW New York State and NYS Assemblywoman Markey

Urge the New York State Legislature to pass and Governor Paterson to pass
Child Victims Act of New York (A2596/S2568)

Take Action

A special request has come to us from Assemblywoman Markey. In her letter, she states,
"It is important that legislators throughout the state be aware that New Yorkers want to see this bill become law in 2009. When they hear from thousands of New Yorkers who are members, supporters, friends and colleagues of organizations like yours, they will understand that it is essential that the child Victims' Act become law in 2009. Thank you for your help in making this happen." Sincerely, Margaret Markey Member of NY Assembly

The Child Victims Act (Assembly Bill A02596, Senate Bill Number A2568) is designed to right the years of injustice which have been suffered in silence by victims of child sexual abuse. The Act extends the civil statute of limitations (SOL) by effectively delaying the time at which it begins to run until the age of twenty-three. This effectively extends the SOL until the victim is twenty-eight in civil cases.

One in four women are reported to have been abused as children.

More importantly, the Act creates a window much like the California window in 2003 that will open 60 days after the Act becomes law and remains open for one year. This will allow those who were shut out of the courts by the woefully short SOL to seek the justice that has been denied.

The Child Victims Act has been introduced and succeeded in the New York State Assembly three times (in 2006, 2007, and 2008 sessions). Yet, its companion bill in the Senate has not been allowed to reach the floor for a full vote! Please contact your representative, both Assemblyperson and Senator, to encourage them to place the protection of the interests of the children and the victims first.

At the same time, you can choose 5 local media outlets to send this lettter.

Posted by:
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
National Organization for Women (NOW)

Childbirth in Chains

A fellow Young Feminist Task Force member posted the following on her facebook. She writes, "Only 5 states have anti-shackling laws... that means the other 45 are still doing this."

Editorial - Childbirth in Chains - NYTimes.com
Source: www.nytimes.com
Gov. David Paterson should sign an antishackling bill that would end the use of restraints for female prisoners in labor.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called several years ago for an end to the barbaric and medically hazardous practice of shackling female prisoners during labor. In addition to further frightening these vulnerable women, the practice of chaining their legs, wrists and even their abdomens makes treatment and delivery more difficult and places mother and child at greater risk of harm.

Posted by:
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
National Organization for Women (NOW)

Shortsighted NYS Dems Give Power & Money Back to Indicted Senator in Backroom Deal

Press Release: Shortsighted Democrats Give Power & Money Back to Indicted Senator in Backroom Deal Press Release Contact: Marcia Pappas, President 518-452-3944 National Organization for Women-NYS Denounces Shortsighted Democrats Dems Give Power & Money Back to Indicted Senator in Backroom Deal ALBANY, NY (07/15/2009) This week, National Organization for Women-NYS learned that Senator Monserrate (the alleged abuser who was indicted for injuring his girlfriend to the tune of twenty facial stitches) was returned to his seat, and rather lucrative stipend, as NYS Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee. Of this reinstatement NOW-NYS President Marcia Pappas remarked: "Given the fact that Monserrate was indicted for such a heinous crime, one would think the Democratic leadership in NY would be wise enough to withhold such a decision, at least until Monserrate's court appearance is completed." Pappas said this move was suspicious, especially since Monseratte recently sided with Republicans and his long-time friend Senator Espada to tip the Senate scales to a Republican majority. Pappas continued: "Now suddenly Monserrate is holding hands and singing Kumbaya with the Democrats again. Could it be that the Democrats, in exchange for Monserrate's loyalty, promised the biggest carrot of all; his job and money?" All appearances would indicate that this back-room deal was negotiated on the backs of NY women. Women are angry and several from the NYS Legislature called the NOW office to say they are working in a mine field and that their work environment has become increasingly hostile. Pappas concluded: "The NYS Democratic leadership, in its infinite but short-sighted wisdom, has not only slapped the face of every woman in NY and in the NYS Legislature, but they have basically said 'Your safety does not matter.' I wonder how those same women will feel come Election Day?" -end- Posted by: Jerin Alam National NOW Young Feminist Task Force National Organization for Women (NOW)

GOOD NEWS: NY Governor Signs Legislation Protecting Domestic Violence Victims

Assemblywoman Paulin and Senator Johnson Usher in Legislation that will Protect Victims of Domestic Violence. Governor Signs Legislation Into Law. Thank Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and Senator Craig Johnson for Protecting the Rights of Domestic Violence Victims The National Organization for Women-New York State thanks NYS Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and Senator Craig Johnson for their leadership in passing crucial legislation for victims of domestic violence. Legislation A.755-A/S.958-B has passed both the NYS Assembly and NYS Senate. The Governor has signed it into law. This law prohibits an employer or licensing agency, because of the actual or perceived status of an individual as a victim of domestic violence or stalking, to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment an individual or to discriminate against such individual in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment CONTACT INFORMATON: Assembywoman Paulin's office: Email: http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=088&sh=contact District Office: P: 914-723-1115 Albany Office: P:518-455-5585 Senator Johnson's office: Email http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/craig-m-johnson/contact District Office: P: (516) 746-5923. Albany Office: P: (518) 455-2622 Posted by: Jerin Alam National NOW Young Feminist Task Force National Organization for Women (NOW)

Good News: Anti-choice amendments FAIL in senate committee

I know a feminist's work is never done, but once in a while, we should stop to celebrate our victories.

Published on RHRealityCheck.org (http://www.rhrealitycheck.org)

Anti-Choice Amendments Fail in Senate HELP Committee
By Emily Douglas
Created Jul 13 2009 - 4:18pm

Chalk up a second win for women's health on the road to health care reform: today, the Senate HELP Committee defeated a handful of anti-choice amendments to the Affordable Health Choices Act, its version of health care reform legislation (the first win, remember, was passage of a Sen. Barbara Mikulski-sponsored amendment to increase access to basic preventive care for women, including cancer screenings and contraceptives, and prohibit the practice of gender-rating among insurers).

Senators Hatch (R-UT), Ensign (R-NV) and Coburn (R-OK) were behind the anti-choice amendments, which were intended to hamper women's access to comprehensive health care in any number of ways. They would have prohibited any public funding of abortion including through private plans made available through a health insurance exchange; would have expanded provider refusal clauses (we've been through that fight before [1]); and would have pre-emptively stated that the bill, if passed in final form, would not supercede existing state laws, such as parental notification statutes, restricting access to abortion care.

Each amendment failed along a nearly-straight party line vote, with Sen. Robert Casey of Pennsylvania the only Democrat to vote for the amendments.

This may not be the last we see of amendments like these, however -- the Senate Finance Committee will soon mark up its own version of health care reform, and the tri-Committee House bill is another avenue through which anti-choice amendments could be trotted out.

Posted by,
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
National Organization for Women (NOW)

THF: NYS State Senator Eric Adams is my new favorite pen pal

Posted by: THF -- HappyFeminist@gmail.com

NYS Senator Adams recently sent me a response to an email of mine. Senator Adams represents state senate district 20, and you should check out his website. There are a lot of shout-outs to awesome NY women. (I cut out unrelated text that made this way long; bold emphasis is mine):

Dear Sabrina,

Thank you for your informative letter. It is my conviction that if you take the time to write me, I should respect your communication by reading it and responding. During these times of great demand it is important that we have knowledgeable citizens provide us with intelligent views on the various issues confronting our state.

I fully support legislation to render all gender-specific language in the NYS Domestic Relations Law gender-neutral, thus affording same-sex couples the identical opportunity, the identical freedom, to contract civil marriages in the same way as opposite-sex couples do currently.

I believe that no legal status, no rights, no benefits, no privileges, and no protections relating to marriage should differ based upon the gender of the parties involved. [THF: hmm...blocking gay marriage = gender based discrimination? I love legal minds!]

The unfairness inherent in depriving same-sex couples of this fundamental justice undermines the stability of family relationships, creates in every sense a second-class citizenry, and weakens our society. I will vote in favor of a gay marriage bill because I believe that gay couples desire exactly the same type of committed relationship as do straight couples, and that relationship, marriage, is a basic human right.

Please continue to reach out to my office. As our office endeavors to go green, I encourage you to continue to send future correspondence to my email address.

Best,

Eric Adams

NYS Senator

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Therefore NYS Senator Adams = My new favorite pen pal. :-D

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Homework!: Click here to find your State Senator and write to them!

Let me know if they write back!

Contact me at HappyFeminist@gmail.com if you need a sample letter.

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