COVID-19, Policy Updates

COVID-19 Policy Priorities

by WREN Staff on May 1, 2020

The WREN team is committed to serving our network by continuing to educate and advocate for the health, economic well-being, and rights of women, girls, and their families. Our COVID-19 policy priorities will center women and caregivers by focusing on protections for front line workers, addressing women’s economic devastation, paid leave, and reproductive freedom.  The priorities below also include recommendations for decision-makers at the state and federal levels. 

 

Protections for Front Line Workers

Women work in some of the highest-risk, essential jobs in our state and they should be protected and prioritized during this crisis. 

Federal

State

 

Addressing Women’s Economic Devastation 

The data is clear that the economic devastation of COVID 19 is impacting women, particularly women of color, at a higher rate. The impact of job loss is made worse by the fact that the women losing their jobs now were underpaid; women comprise two-thirds of the lowest-paid workers in South Carolina. In order to mitigate widespread economic hardship we need comprehensive relief packages that center the most impacted. 

State

Paid Leave

The COVID-19 public health emergency has shone a spotlight on the impossible choice workers have long faced between caring for their health or the health of a loved one, and bringing home a paycheck. Every worker deserves paid sick and family medical leave to maintain their health and economic wellbeing as well as the health of the community at large. 

Federal

State

Reproductive Freedom

During this crisis no person should be denied access to time-sensitive reproductive healthcare. All pregnancy-related care is essential, whether it’s ensuring a healthy pregnancy and safe birth, preventing pregnancy, or ending a pregnancy. 

Federal

State

Take Action

We should all have the agency, information and support to get the services we need to manage our health and plan our families – including being able to access contraception and abortion.  Unfortunately, obstacles are being created to make this care harder to get.  We should be eliminating barriers to the care we need to ensure our rights, health and opportunities. Take a moment to be the voice for reproductive health, rights, and justice in South Carolina.

 

 

To view the WREN statement on COVID-19, click here.

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