Overview
The Department:
- Fosters the advancement of the status of women and girls, particularly those issues that impact marginalized women and girls, both within City and County government and in the private sector.
- Promotes access and develop policy within City and County government agencies, insuring equality for women and girls.
- Advocates, monitors and proposes legislation to improve the quality of women's and girl's lives.
- Promotes programs that increase public awareness and understanding of violence against women.
- Administers funds for the provision of emergency shelter for women and their children, and other support services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Monitors complaints of unlawful and unequal treatment of women, and promotes public education and awareness to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination against women.
- Provides technical assistance, information and referral to individuals, community organizations, businesses, and governments related to women's and young women's rights and services.
- Works with community organizations and coalitions promoting issues which improve the quality of life for women and girls.
Find out how you can get involved in this important work!
Staff
Emily M. Murase, PhD, Executive Director
Cynthia Green, Public Service Trainee
Ann Lehman, Policy Director
Laura Marshall, MSW, Fiscal and Policy Analyst Analyst
Anu Menon, JD, Senior Gender Policy Analyst
Carol Sacco, Grants Administrator
Cynthia Vasquez, Commission Secretary
Contact Us
Department on the Status of Women
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 130
San Francisco, CA 94102-6061
Phone: (415) 252-2570
TDD: (415) 252-2550
Fax: (415) 252-2575
Email: dosw@sfgov.org
Hours
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Commission and Committees
The Commission on the Status of Women is a 7-member charter commission appointed by the Mayor. The Board of Supervisors established the Commission in 1975, and residents of San Francisco voted to create a chartered Department on the Status of Women in 1994 to carry out the policies of the Commission. To learn more about the Commission, visit the COSW website. While there you can view agendas and minutes of this public meeting body.
For announcements, agendas, and minutes of other public meetings hosted by the department, please visit the Committees/Task Forces page.
Gifts
Per State and City guidelines, the Department is required to publically disclose all gifts recieved.
Statement of Incompatible Activities
Per State and City guidelines, the Department is required to publically disclose all activities deemed incompatible with public service.
