Category: Freedom from Violence

Advocate Stories, Freedom from Violence, Health and Education

CEO Ann Warner’s Testimony in Support of the Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act

by WREN on Feb 18, 2021

Statement provided on February 18, 2021  Thank you, Chairwoman Brawley, and members of the 3-M Social Services, Mental Health and Children’s Affairs subcommittee, for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Ann Warner and I am the CEO of the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with a mission to

Freedom from Violence, Health and Education, Partner

Collective Statement from South Carolina Organizations on the Passage of S.1

by WREN Staff and Partner Organizations on Feb 18, 2021

Today, South Carolina has become the latest state to demonstrate its disrespect and disregard for the lives and welfare of its residents by signing into law S.1 – the extreme and dangerous 6-week abortion ban. In the middle of a raging pandemic that is causing unprecedented loss of life and livelihood, it is appalling that

COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, Freedom from Violence, Health and Education, Leadership and Civic Engagement, News, Policy Updates

WREN’s Gender Justice* Policy Agenda

Dec 11, 2020

WREN’s policy agenda framework is rooted in the principles of fairness, equity, and inclusiveness, so that all women, girls, and gender expansive** people —of every race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, family status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression – can prosper and thrive. It reflects the importance of policy that serves

Freedom from Violence, Health and Education, News

South Carolina Senate Advances Bill to Stop Shackling Pregnant People Who Are Incarcerated 

by Ali Titus, ACLU Policy and Communications Director on Mar 5, 2020

Criminal Justice and Reproductive Health Advocates Join Forces in Support of Passage FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 5, 2020 By a unanimous vote of 42-0, South Carolina Senators advanced legislation yesterday that seeks to limit the types of restraints used on pregnant people who are incarcerated and virtually abolish the practice of shackling people during labor, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. The legislation will return to the

Freedom from Violence, Special Events

Transgender Day of Remembrance.

by Nyomi Guzman on Nov 15, 2018

This Tuesday, November 20th, WREN will be observing Transgender Day of Remembrance. Gwendolyn Ann Smith founded Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1999, as a way to remember trans people whose lives were taken as a result of anti-trans violence in the last year around the world. Trans Day of Remembrance is recognized through a memorial.

Advocate Stories, Freedom from Violence

Facebook Live Recap: Surviving Sexual Assault

by Nancy Jones on Oct 16, 2018

Ashley Thomas is the founder of an organization called The Hive Community Circle, a non-profit, faith-based organization that provides advocacy, support, and prevention and education services centered around sexual assault and intimate partner violence. The Hive works with the underserved populations of women and girls in and around Columbia, SC, mostly African American females, fulfilling

Freedom from Violence, Leadership and Civic Engagement

We demand more from our representatives.

by Ann Warner on Jun 20, 2018

Recently  it was revealed that Rep. Jerry Govan (D-Orangeburg) was quietly cleared of a harassment allegation after a staffer complained of unwanted physical contact.  Govan was one of three state House members accused of sexual misconduct in the past five years. In the midst of the #MeToo movement, new data from Stop Street Harassment shows

Advocate Stories, Economic Opportunity, Freedom from Violence, Health and Education, Policy Updates

Video Series: Using the Statehouse Website

by Megan Plassmeyer on Feb 7, 2018

We get it, the Statehouse website probably hasn’t made your list of most frequent stops.  Read below to see how you can better utilize this free resource, and become a #superadvocate this legislative session. You can also click here to access our Advocacy 101 Toolkit. Watch Live Video While the Statehouse website can’t stream movies