American Association of University Women Branch Meeting

Wednesday, November 6th, 2013 AAUW-Westchester’s monthly branch meeting will
feature special guest Daniel E. Berger, Director of the Lower Hudson Valley Chapter of the
New York Civil Liberties Union. The timely topic of discussion will be the New York State
Women's Equality Agenda: History and Status. Greenburgh Public Library, 10:30 AM.

Continuing its efforts to advance equity for women and girls in all areas of our society,
AAUW Westchester will feature at its November meeting, Daniel Berger, who will discuss the
status of New York State’s Women’s Equality Act. Last spring, Governor Cuomo and legislators
supported by the Women’s Equality Coalition (which included over 800 organizations and many
individuals state-wide) introduced this legislation to end discrimination not currently addressed
by the state’s legal code. The Women's Equality Act is intended to strengthen gender fairness in
the workforce, the civil and criminal courts, and areas of society where discrimination continues
legally. In the workforce, an end to sexual harassment and unequal pay is targeted. Laws related
to human trafficking and orders of protection in cases of domestic violence are strengthened.
When it comes to discrimination ranging from victims of domestic violence to women workers
who are pregnant, there are changes in the laws to eliminate practices that treat women unfairly.
In addition, the health code related to reproductive health would be changed and would thus
bring the state’s law relating to abortion into accord with Roe v. Wade. The legislation was
passed unanimously by the New York State Senate, and was passed partially by the Assembly.
Daniel Berger will discuss the current status and strategy for passing the law in total.

Daniel Berger, the evening's guest speaker, is Director of the Lower Hudson Valley
Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union. Daniel has been a leading organizer of the
Women’s Equality Coalition. Following a brief stint as an educator, Berger joined the staff of the
American Civil Liberties Union, working in the communications department for several years.
He then moved on to the ACLU Drug Law Reform Project, where he served as a paralegal and
program associate, specializing in issues from marijuana decriminalization to racially biased
application of drug laws throughout the U.S. Currently, Berger oversees the work of the
NYCLU in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange and Sullivan counties.

The Branch meeting will begin promptly at 10:30am at the Greenburg Public Library,
300 Tarrytown Road, Elmsford. The meeting is open to the general public.

AAUW is a nationwide organization of women university graduates whose mission statement is
to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

Representatives of the press and media are welcomed to attend and cover this important event.