The Commission and Department host a number of events each year to raise awareness about women's issues. Additionally, the Commission and Department partner with local agencies and collaboratives on a variety of projects.
ANNUAL EVENTS
Women's History Month and the "Women Making a Difference" Awards
Each year, the Board of Supervisors holds a special session during March to allow each Supervisor to honor a woman from his or her district making a difference in the community. The Mayor also honors a local woman, and the Department, Commission, and Friends of the Commission host a reception to celebrate the accomplishments of these amazing women in the community. Read news coverage of the 2010 event at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/03/31/18643429.php#.
San Francisco Women's Policy Summit
Since 2007, the Department has partnered with the San Francisco Women's Political Committee and other women's advocacy organizations to host the San Francisco Women's Policy Summit. Examining an array of issues impacting women in San Francisco, the Summit brings local leaders to the table to propose and organize around policy reforms to advance the status of women.
Save the Date!
4th Annual Women's Policy Summit: Empowerment and Access
Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 11:30 am - 5:30 pm
Milton Marks Auditorium, CA State Building
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month nationally, and in addition to the many events hosted by the Department's Partner Agencies, since 2008, the Department has used this occasion to raise awareness among City departments be organizing an Annual Cell Phone Drive. The cell phones collected are donated to Verizon Wireless' HOPELine Program, which refurbishes used phones and provides them to women in need through domestic violence programs. The Department collects used cell phones year-round, and has provided the HOPELine program with over 3,000 phones since 2008.
NEWSLETTERS
Stay informed about these and other events by receiving the Department's quarterly e-Newsletter. You can get on our list, and read back issues, available in the Resources section of this site.
HIGHLIGHTS AND MEDIA ATTENTION
Members of a Global Community - Department at the U.N.
The Department has been busy getting the word out about the Women's Human Rights Ordinance during 2010. Read all about our efforts!
Violence Against Women Services
The Mayor pledged to preserve funding for domestic violence programs in his June 2010 budget proposal, and the media took notice. Read more here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Citys-domestic-violence-services-preserved-95088574.html.
Spotlight on Human Trafficking
January 2010 marked National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and the Department, with the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, hosted a number of events to shine a light on this crime. Media coverage of SFCAHT's efforts has been documented on the SFCAHT webpage.
CEDAW in the News
IPS (Inter Press Service News Agency) showcased San Francisco's CEDAW Ordinance, as well as the new Gender Equality Principles Initiative, in a November 2009 article: For U.S., Lessons in CEDAW from San Francisco (external link).
The Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute and the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies released State and Local Human Rights Agencies: Recommendations for Advancing Opportunity and Equality Through an International Human Rights Framework (external pdf). This report highlights ways in which an international human rights framework can advance the work of state and local human rights agencies. It recommends reforms at the national level to create a better system of accountability around the United States ' domestic and international human rights obligations and enhanced coordination and support for state and local efforts. San Francisco ’s CEDAW Ordinance and related efforts by the Department on the Status of Women have been featured in a case study in this exciting report.
Ms. Magazine put a spotlight on San Francisco's local Women's Human Rights Ordinance in the January 2009 edition. Read the article now (external link). Also, the International Museum of Women documents the power of the CEDAW Ordinance in its online exhibition, Women, Power and Politics, in the article, CEDAW in San Francisco: From International Human Rights to Local Policies for Women (external links).
American City and County, an online resource, recently profiled Fulton County, GA (which includes Atlanta), for its Gender Responsive Budgeting Initiative. In 2008, the Department trained Fulton County officials on this valuable tool, and the article highlights the benefits this work has had since the Department began providing technical assistance.
