RATIFY THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

Women are still not guaranteed equal rights under the U.S. Constitution. NOW has made ratifying the ERA a top priority because equality in pay, job opportunities, political structure, education, health care, including reproductive health care, and education–in particular for women of color, women with disabilities and the LGBTQIA community–will remain an elusive dream without a guarantee in the U.S. Constitution. An ERA would also make it significantly more difficult to roll back progress on women’s equality: an acute concern under the current administration. 

Click here to learn more about the ERA ratification efforts!

GENDER BALANCE on IOWA BOARDS and COMMISSIONS - it's the law!

Although women make up more than half of Iowa’s population and outnumber men in 90 of Iowa’s 99 counties, historically they’ve been underrepresented on local boards and commissions, especially those that make economic decisions for communities. A 2009 law that localized the scope of gender equity in Iowa went into effect on January 1, 2012. It requires “all political subdivisions of the state” to be gender balanced in their appointments to municipal commissions, committees, boards and councils. The Office on the Status of Women and the Friends of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women are identifying women whose capabilities match local requirements for service and assisting local governments in how to fill available seats with female community leaders. 

Click here to find out how you can be active on this issue!

LOBBY YOUR REPRESENTATIVES to RATIFY CEDAW
NOW and The Feminist Majority strongly supports and advocates for the U.S Ratification of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Adopted by the United Nations on December 18, 1979, CEDAW is the most comprehensive and detailed international agreement which seeks the advancement of women. Ratified by 187 out of 193 nations, the United States is the only industrialized country that has not ratified the treaty, putting us in the company of countries such as Sudan, Iran and Somalia.

Click here to learn more about CEDAW

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES

Contact your elected representatives on a regular basis to advocate for the issues you care about.  Here is a helpful link to suggested calling scripts on a variety of issues (reproductive rights, marriage equality, health care, immigration, civil liberties and more). 

DONATE TO THE JUDICIAL BYPASS FUND

Since 2004, Iowa NOW has funded abortions, at clinics in Des Moines and Iowa City, for young women who have successfully negotiated the "judicial bypass" exception to Iowa's Parental Notification law. Although the State of Iowa is obligated to pay the cost of the legal process, the minor must find a way to pay for the procedure itself. Iowa NOW's Judicial Bypass Fund was established to assist these young women. You can send your donation to:
  Iowa NOW Judicial Bypass Fund
  3635 E. 43rd Court
  Des Moines, IA 50317-4061