Since 1972, the Center has expanded the possibilities for women and girls in this country. The Center uses the law in all its forms: getting new laws on the books and enforced; litigating ground-breaking cases in state and federal courts all the way to the Supreme Court; and educating the public about ways to make the law and public policies work for women and their families. An experienced staff of more than 50 takes on the issues that cut to the core of women's and girls' lives in education, employment, family economic security, and health -- with special attention given to the needs of low-income women and their families.
Poverty is a women's issue. More than 14 million women -- one in eight -- live in poverty. The Center's Family Economic Security program advances laws and public policies to help economically vulnerable women -- including single mothers, women of color, and elderly women -- by promoting high-quality, affordable child and dependent care, strong income and work support programs, secure retirement programs, and a fair tax system that raises adequate revenues. Current priorities include expanding federal and state resources for child care and early education; increasing the benefits of family tax credits; improving child support enforcement; expanding access to unemployment insurance; eliminating arbitrary barriers in key income support programs; protecting and strengthening Social Security, including by rejecting proposals to divert revenues into private accounts; increasing women's retirement security; and reforming the tax system to promote fairness, ensure adequate revenues for needed investments; and assure that individuals and corporations pay their fair share.
The Center's Education program addresses these gender gaps by fighting for strong enforcement of Title IX and promoting programs that remove barriers to girls' educational opportunities.
The Center's Employment program addresses these barriers by fighting for equal treatment of women in all aspects of their employment.
To learn more about the National Women's Law Center, visit: www.nwlc.org.