Accountability, Law, and Justice
NWLC has worked to hold government and organizations accountable for gender and sexual violence, support women of color nominees with gender justice values, and advance equality.
DC Street (1970/1979) by StreetsofWashingtonNational Women's Law Center
1970s
In 1972, NWLC was established as part of the Center for Law and Social Policy.
Photograph of the White House, Washington Monument, and Jefferson Memorial (1980/2006) by Carol M. HighsmithNational Women's Law Center
1980s
In 1981, NWLC was officially established as an independent organization, allowing them the freedom to push into overdrive achieving their mission.
Photograph of F-15 Eagle Pilots (2006-07-05/2006-07-05) by Tech. Sgt. Keith BrownNational Women's Law Center
1990s
NWLC and coalition partners advocated for the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which aimed to ban discrimination against employees by their employers and provided actionable steps in cases of harassment or discrimination.
NWLC played an instrumental role in increasing opportunities for women in the military. NWLC’s research about gender stereotypes directly contributed to new legislation and 260,000 new positions for women in the military.
Rally at Chowchilla Valley State Prison for Women (2013-01-26/2013-01-26) by Daniel ArauzNational Women's Law Center
NWLC has also fought for rights of incarcerated women. In 1993, NWLC served as co-counsel for a group of incarcerated women within the Washington, D.C., prison system who were subjected to sexual abuse, inhumane living conditions, and insufficient programs.
VTANG (2016-03-06) by U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Victoria GreeniaNational Women's Law Center
2010s
NWLC continued to advocate for women in the military by pushing for roles for women in combat. In 2013, NWLC helped establish 55,000 roles for women in combat, ending the Department of Defense's ban.
#MeToo Sign at a Protest (2017-11-12/2017-11-12) by Donna RotunnoNational Women's Law Center
The ‘me too.’ movement was founded in 2006 by Tarana Burke and went viral in 2017 with the hashtag #MeToo spreading across social media. It was a movement of women showing solidarity and speaking up about sexual violence.
The movement spurred legal cases with survivors coming forward against their abusers. The TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, housed by NWLC, is devoted to fighting workplace harassment and helping those that need it with their cases.
Rally in support of KBJ (2022-03-06) by NWLCNational Women's Law Center
Onward
NWLC will continue to be an advocate for survivors through the TIME’s UP Legal Defense Fund, with research efforts around workplace discrimination, and by breaking silence around sexual harassment.
