|  Nancy Mion & Judith McGinn
NYS Public Policy Directors
For over a century, the American Association of University Women
has examined the fundamental issues of the times - educational,
social, economic, and political - and has taken courageous positions,
often far ahead of popular opinion.
The Advocacy Policies that guide AAUW are determined by the members at Convention. All AAUW Public Policy actions must conform to these policies.
The AAUW Public Policy Program is voted upon at each biennial AAUW Convention
The AAUW NYS Biennial Action Priorities 2007-2009 were voted upon at the 2007 AAUW NYS Convention. Resolutions approved at the AAUW NYS Convention become priority issues requiring the state to expend resources to implement. A brochure is available which you may print for distribution in your community.
One of the many highlights of the 2008 NYS Convention was the Public Policy forum on Sunday. See a video of the panel discussion with Assembly member Janele Hyer-Spencer and NYS Commissioner of Labor M. Patricia Smith! It includes Hyer-Spencer's campaign and how she achieved success; child care and Pay Equity.
Join the AAUW Action Network free and be a part of what is happening nationally with AAUW issues. You will receive:
- The Two Minute Activist which lets you easily and efficiently tell Congress what you think.
- Washington Update is a weekly e-bulletin for members only who want detailed inside information about AAUW issues in the capital.
Resolutions passed at the AAUW NYS 2005 and 2006 Conventions require us to focus on specific issues. Webpages have been established for these concerns of AAUW NYS members. All are part of our NYS Public Policy Priorities 2007-09.
Five resolutions have been passed at the 2005 and 2006 AAUW-NYS Conventions. There were no resolutions added to this inclusive list in 2007, but one was added in 2008. Details for resources and action plans for all of them is available here.
2007-09 BIENNIAL ACTION PRIORITIES, AAUW-NYS (Adopted April 2007)
Biennial priorities for federal action are chosen according to the criteria of viability, critical need, strong member support, and potential for distinctive AAUW contribution. These AAUW NYS Public Policy Action Priorities do not preclude members, branches or the state from acting on any other issues clearly stated in the AAUW Public Policy Program.
1. To support a strong system of public education in New York State that promotes gender fairness, equity and diversity, AAUW New York State advocates:
- Adequate and equitable funding for quality public education for all students
- Vigorous enforcement of Title IX
- Programs that meet the needs of girls in elementary and secondary education
- Opposition to the use of public funds for non-public elementary and secondary education
2. To achieve economic self-sufficiency for all women, AAUW New York State advocates:
- Fairness in compensation, including pay equity, Social Security and other pension benefits for women
- Equitable access and advancement in employment
- Vigorous enforcement of employment anti-discrimination statutes
- Access to affordable, comprehensive health care; and choice in reproductive health care for all women
- Programs that provide women with education, training, and support for success in the workforce and improve women’s earning potential.
- Greater availability of and access to quality, affordable dependent care
2007-09 AAUW PUBLIC POLICY PRINCIPLES FOR ACTION
(Adopted July 2007)
Basic to all of AAUW's public policy efforts is the understanding that true equity requires a balance between the rights of the individual and the needs of the community. We firmly believe in the separation of church and state.
AAUW supports constitutional protection for the civil rights of all individuals, including the right to privacy. We believe in choice in the determination of one's reproductive life. We support a fair, balanced and independent judiciary.
We oppose all forms of discrimination. We support affirmative action to improve racial, ethnic and gender diversity. We affirm our commitment to passage and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
AAUW believes that quality public education is the foundation of a democratic society. We advocate equity, academic freedom, protection from censorship, bias-free education, and responsible funding for all levels of education. We advocate increased access to higher education, especially for women in poverty.
AAUW promotes the economic, social, and physical well-being of all persons. Essential to that well-being are an economy that provides equitable employment opportunities, a living wage, reduction of poverty, quality affordable dependent care, paid family and medical leave, decent and affordable housing, and quality affordable health care; freedom from violence; and a clean and healthful environment.We support a Social Security system that provides inflation protected, guaranteed lifetime benefits with a progressive benefit formula, spousal and widow benefits and disability and survivor benefits. We support public budgets that balance individual rights and responsibility to community. We support meaningful campaign finance reform that will promote equitable participation and representation.
AAUW values and is committed to the arts and humanities, which develop and enhance our pluralistic cultural heritage.
AAUW believes that global interdependence requires national and international policies that promote peace, justice, human rights, sustainable development, and mutual security for all people. We advocate public discussion to ensure enlightened decisions on these issues. We support a strengthened United Nations and its affiliated agencies. We advocate implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action from the 4th World Conference on Women and subsequent declarations. We affirm our commitment to theU.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). We support international family planning programs.
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