The YWCA’s commitment to eliminating racism encompasses a broad variety of racial and social justice issues, ranging from: immigrants’ rights; voting rights and protection; civil liberties; racial, ethnic or religious profiling; and human trafficking. Local YWCA associations provide racial justice trainings; direct social services to victims of trafficking and immigrant and refugee victims of domestic violence; and voter protection information. 
In addition to this, the YWCA conducts advocacy to ensure that our local, grassroots work is reflected in policies on the state and federal level.
Immigration and Immigrants’ Rights
The United States is one of the most diverse nations today, with a thriving immigrant population of 40 million. This increase amongst the immigrant community in the United States not only reflects a change in demographics, but illustrates a need to address emerging and nuanced concerns of underserved and minority communities. These issues range from linguistic and cultural barriers in seeking services; access to education and jobs; workplace discrimination and labor rights; border security; racial, ethnic, and religious profiling; unjust detention; and deportation. Advocates across the United States have called for immigration reform to address many of these concerns faced by the immigrant community. The discussion around immigration reform and immigrants’ rights has gained national attention over the past several years as advocates have mobilized on a national front.
YWCA Position
As one of the largest service providers of domestic violence services and over 1200 locations nationwide, YWCA associations serve immigrant communities in a wide variety of ways, such as: culturally and linguistically appropriate direct services; legal assistance; housing; domestic violence and sexual assault services; youth empowerment programs; and services for victims of trafficking. The YWCA welcomes the passage of a nuanced immigration reform bill that addresses not only border security, but that encompasses the welfare immigrant women and their families.
Candidate Questions
What is your policy position on immigration reform?
What is your position on I-VAWA?
What is your strategy for assisting immigrant women who are trafficked into this country against their will?
What policy proposals do you support to help immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence?
Marriage promotion and family formation are important in policy discussions. As President, what actions will you take to ensure that children who are United States citizens are able to remain with their families, even if their parents are undocumented?
Judicial Nominations
Courts and judges across the country make many critical decisions that affect women and families. Judges have the ability to make landmark decisions that have national implications on laws affecting women’s rights, civil rights, the rights of individuals with disabilities, workers rights, immigrant rights and more.
While most people know about the role of the Supreme Court and understand the importance of a Supreme Court judge, far fewer pay attention to the lower federal courts. Yet these courts can have an even greater effect on the law than the Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court typically hears fewer than 100 cases a year, the federal courts of appeal, which are the courts that are immediately below the Supreme Court, decide almost 30,000 cases a year. Further, federal judges are appointed for life and have the power to impact laws and decisions for decades to come.
Actively engaging in discussions about Presidential candidates also entails learning about each candidates political standing on issues that are important to you. By knowing your candidates position on key issues, you are more likely to know how such a candidate will lean in regards to judicial nominations for individuals to serve as judges on the Supreme Court and the federal courts of appeal.
YWCA Position
The Judicial Branch of government plays an important role in upholding the Constitution and protecting the civil rights and liberties of all. The YWCA supports judicial nominations for individuals that are concerned about upholding civil rights, in particular focusing on the welfare of women, children, and families.
Candidate Questions
What is your position on judicial nominations?
If you were to nominate an individual to the Supreme Court and/or federal court, what are the top 3 key factors you will look for in a nominee?
Voter Protection
Voting is the single most important tool that individuals have to help shape the policies that are going to affect every aspect of their lives. In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the Constitution gave all men, regardless of race or color the right to vote. Yet, many states continued to use various methods to prevent people of color from voting, including literacy tests, poll taxes, the disenfranchisement of former inmates, intimidation, threats, and even violence.
Today, barriers to voting still exist for many through purging legal voters off of voter lists, providing false and misleading information to voters who live in low-income areas, disenfranchisement of former inmates, and even acts of intimidation.
YWCA Position
The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy and every eligible person in the United States should be able to routinely, easily and successfully exercise his or her right to vote. Practices and tactics which disenfranchise voters undermine voters’ constitutionally protected right to vote.
Candidate Questions
If elected what would you do to ensure that all eligible voters are able to participate in the electoral process?
What steps to you believe need to be put in place to protect voters’ rights?
