CALCASA participates in Women's Policy Summit

February 5, 2013 |
Valor
the Honorable Sheila Kuehl with CALCASA staff.

the Honorable Sheila Kuehl with CALCASA staff.

On January 17, 2013, I had the privilege of presenting at the 2013 Women’s Policy Summit: Advancing Women’s Health, Wealth & Power, organized and hosted by the California Center for Research on Women and Familes (CCRWF). Originally co-founded and still co-sponsored by the Legislative Women’s Caucus and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, this statewide conference drew over 500 legislators, legislative staff and advocates to Sacramento.
Attendees were inspired by an amazing key note address Do Women Still Matter: Gender and Feminism in Policy & Law, delivered by the Honorable Sheila Kuehl.   Secretary of State Debra Bowen was among the presenters with a call for mentors to young women interested in public policy and politics.
The primary purpose of this summit focused on women’s issues is to: educate the public on issue affecting women and girls, help prepare the advocacy community to effectively champion priority recommendations to improve the health and well-being of women and girls in California, prepare comprehensive educational resources and to provide policymakers with policy options and resources to support their decision-making.
This year CALCASA was invited to share about the state of sexual violence in California and to make policy recommendations for the 2013 Legislative Session.  My presentation was based upon three areas of focus:

  1. Generating a new funding stream to create a comprehensive approach to addressing and preventing sexual violence in California,
  2. Keeping California in compliance by ensuring that all rape victims are entitled to an evidentiary forensic exam, regardless of participation in the criminal justice process, and
  3. Reduction of backlog on untested rape kits in California.

The information was well received by the attendees. CALCASA’s participation in this year’s summit ensures increased visibility surrounding the reality of sexual violence in California, and broadens partnerships and allies joining in the struggle to intervene in and prevent sexual assault.
To learn more about this event, please go to:  Women’s Policy Summit.