March 8, 2018

On International Women’s Day, Latino Leaders Call for Increased Commitment to Hold
All Responsible for Sexual Harassment Accountable and Improve Prevention Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On International Women’s Day, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 45 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, calls on political leaders and all employers to take measures to protect workers from sexual harassment and to hold those responsible accountable for their action.

The NHLA has vigorously advocated for gender equity for Latinas and for stronger workplace protections for Latina workers, including measures to curb sexual harassment, which is a major problem for Latina workers across sectors. Over the past several months, there has been increased awareness around this issue with the disclosures of women working in a wide range of industries, including female members of Congress, Congressional staff members, individuals employed in the entertainment, technology, agricultural, and service industries, and within the nonprofit sector, among other places.

As widely demonstrated, sexual harassment, including sexual assault, is a pervasive problem across many different employment sectors, resulting in a hostile or unsafe work environment with a disproportionate and detrimental impact on women in the workplace. It is incumbent on Congress to hold elected officials, who shape this nation’s laws, to a high standard. Similarly, employers must examine their own policies, practices and workplaces to ensure that sufficient measures are in place to prevent, address and remedy this serious problem.

NHLA was pleased to see the U.S. House of Representatives pass the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act (H.R. 4924) and an anti-harassment policy (H.Res.724), to reform the policies governing the way sexual harassment is handled on Capitol Hill, with the aim of preventing sexual harassment in the workplace, establishing a fair and expeditious process for handling reports of sexual misconduct, strengthening support and services that are victim-centered, fostering transparency, and holding perpetrators accountable. We urge similar bipartisan support of this measure in the U.S. Senate.

NHLA also calls on Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) this year in a bipartisan manner with increased support and resources to strengthen prevention efforts and improve access to services and justice for survivors. Congress should support VAWA and other legislation aimed at allocating increased resources to foster safer environments and support victims and survivors in all workplaces, on college campuses, in the military, and throughout all communities. This should include addressing the increased vulnerability faced by low-paid workers and individuals from immigrant and marginalized communities.

The present moment provides a critical opportunity to make progress on addressing the problems of sexual harassment that have permeated for far too long and caused harm to countless victims and in many cases, their loved ones, who are also impacted. Sexual violence thrives in conditions of secrecy and inequality. While media attention has inevitably focused on individual cases, we recognize the need to create lasting, systemic change.

The recent mass disclosures make clear that no one can turn a blind eye to this issue. It has a grave impact on the integrity of our institutions and the smooth functioning of businesses, is harmful to the individual who has been harassed, and impedes the overall well-being of our economy and communities when workers cannot work to their full potential because they fear harassment.

We call on elected officials at the federal, state, and local level, as well as faith leaders, non- profit leaders, business leaders, and community leaders to stand with survivors and advocate for the support needed for their healing. We also call on them to make a commitment in this new year to increase support for prevention initiatives with youth and work together to change social norms and eliminate harmful practices in the workplace that allow sexual harassment to continue unabated. It is crucial to invest in preventive measures that will be required in order to save future generations from the devastation of sexual violence and instead create communities committed to safety, equity, and respect for all individuals.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA:
The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 45 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS:
Alianza Americas | American G.I. Forum | ASPIRA Association | Avance Inc. | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Farmworker Justice | GreenLatinos | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund | Mi Familia Vota | National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Day Laborer Organizing Network | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina/o Psychological Association | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | Presente.org | SER Jobs for Progress National | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | UnidosUS | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.- Mexico Foundation | Voto Latino