By J. Zamgba Browne
Chief Correspondent

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has unveiled a plan to combat sexual harassment in the workplace, ensure access to contraception, remove firearms from domestic abusers, increase child care funding and support women advancing in the workplace.

“From the birth of the women’s rights movement at Seneca Falls to the most comprehensive Paid Family Leave policy in the nation, New York leads the country in championing women’s rights and breaking down barriers to equality,” said Gov. Cuomo.

He vowed that that in 2018, “we will build on this progress and continue to advance equality across all areas of life.”

The Governor added that while the federal government seeks to roll back women’s right, “the Empire State looks toward the future, with bold set of proposals to create opportunity for women to succeed in every area of work including health, safety, education and family life.”

The Governor’s secretary and chair of New York State Council on Women and girls agrees. Melissa DeRosa said she knows how demoralizing the 2016 election was for many women.

But in many ways, she said “it was the empowering wakeup call we needed. It helped us find our voice, and our backbone. And for our mothers and grandmothers who came before us and our daughters and my nieces who came after,” she added.

“I promise you this: we will not let this moment pass us by. We have an obligation to ourselves and to them. We will be the change required by this moment in policy, in practice, in the workplace and all across society,” said DeRosa.

Assemblywoman Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, legislative ambassador to the New York State Council on Women and Girls said that everyone deserves a fair shot at the American Dream.

“By implementing this all-encompassing agenda to ensure every woman has the opportunity to earn an education, attain a decent job and lead a quality life and New York is setting an example for the rest of the nation and the world on the worth and value of every citizen of this state,” said People-Stakes.

 

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