Governor unveils Women's Equality Agenda

By Gazette staff writers

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday unveiled his long-awaited Women's Equality Agenda — first promised during his State of the State Address in January — in hopes of reducing discrimination in the workplace, stopping sexual harassment, strengthening domestic violence laws, reducing prostitution and human trafficking, and protecting the right to an abortion in New York.

"In 1848, the women's suffrage movement began in America at the first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Since then, New York has been at the forefront of important social and legal movements that have advanced the equal treatment of all people," said Cuomo. "Over the years, however, New York has fallen behind in its role as a progressive leader on women's rights. The Women's Equality Act, which I introduced today, is designed to address gender inequality in our communities, and to restore New York as a leader in women's rights."

According the memo accompanying the governor's program bill, the legislation guarantees a women's right to terminate a pregnancy "prior to fetal viability or when necessary to protect the health and life of the woman." It does not require any institution to provide abortions against their religious or moral beliefs. Contrary to fears of pro-life groups, the bill does not expand the class of individual who could perform abortions and it does not alter the long-standing criminal ban on partial-birth abortions.

Ed Cox, the chair of the state Republican Party, said the governor should launch a full investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by Assemblyman Vito Lopez, and the subsequent cover-up by Assembly leaders, if he is truly concerned about protecting women.

Read more at http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-06-04-83998.113122-Governor-unveils-Womens-Equality-Agenda.html