Our advocacy efforts are guided by our core values.
Women's Health
First and foremost, the NYSFDW believes that all people should have full access to all aspects of reproductive healthcare, including access to abortion services. Women must have autonomy over their own reproduction in order to participate fully in the social and economic life of the nation. We also recognize that access to a wide range of reproductive services is essential to the health and well being of our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. In addition, we understand that disparities in healthcare outcomes exist across racial, gender and socioeconomic lines and therefore are committed to work toward diminishing these disparities. We hold that healthy women are essential for healthy families and a healthy workforce.
Violence Against Women
Violence against women exists in many forms. It can take the form of rape, physical, emotional or financial abuse, sexual harassment, revenge porn, cyberstalking /cyberbullying or hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community. It can affect anyone, anywhere, from any walk of life. Too often these crimes go unreported due to the survivor's sense of shame, fear of retaliation or fear of not being believed. We hold that women should be believed, that crimes against women and LGTBQ+ persons should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and that there must be a fundamental change in the way these cases are handled by public safety agencies.
Anti-racism
While the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Atatiana Jefferson, Ahmaud Aubrey, Manuel Ellis and others have brought to light the despicable acts of racism in our society, we recognize that these issues have deep roots that originate well before the founding of the United States. The NYSFDW recognizes that systemic racism exists and is prevalent in American institutions. We are committed to addressing these issues internally and externally in our organization, and understand that people of color, particularly those who are Black, face extra challenges in their daily lives. We resolve to demonstrate our commitment to anti-racist work through our legislative priorities, issue advocacy and candidate endorsement.
Voting Rights
The NYSFDW recognizes that democracy works only when all citizens can exercise their right to vote. We believe that recent efforts to suppress ballot access across the United States are politically motivated and abhorrent. We recognize that voter suppression bills often target specific groups based on race, ethnicity and political affiliation and stand firm in the belief that all New Yorkers should have the ability to easily exercise their right to vote.
Environmental Responsibility/Accountability
The NYFDW recognizes that the health of our environment is a central issue facing all of us. The changing climate exacerbates fault lines in our society, compounds inequalities and continues to impactour water supply, air quality and food chain. Migration of people from areas affected by flooding or drought also disproportionately affects those living in poverty, and especially caregivers of children. While this is a global issue, we want to ensure that New York plays a central role in leading the country in responding to climate change.