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0 <br />WHEREAS, many decades of effort by workers for women's rights were required to give women the <br />right to vote; and <br />WHEREAS, after great effort there is still no reliable protection in the U. S. Constitution for women <br />against sex discrimination in general; and <br />WHEREAS, laws and policies in the Commonwealth of Virginia have unjustly discriminated against <br />girls and women - such as in matters of reproductive rights, sexual assault, marital property, and sexual <br />harassment - and although some laws and policies have been eased, such improvements can be, have been and <br />are being reversed; and <br />WHEREAS, some facially neutral policies still have inequitable effects on women - policies such as <br />those dealing with insurance, pension, family medical leave, job promotions, occupational choice, recreational <br />opportunities, access to medical care (including reproductive and abortion services), and business opportunities; <br />and stereotypes still exist which limit women's roles and activities; and <br />WHEREAS, young girls and adult women still must content with unwanted touching, sexual and verbal <br />assault, and rape, and being viewed by men as objects to use; and <br />WHEREAS, most of the care of the young and the elderly is still given primarily by women, many of <br />whom must also work in the job market or at home; and <br />WHEREAS, in many other ways the tasks of providing equal opportunities to woman and removing <br />burdens which fall unjustly on women remain uncompleted; <br />NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of Charlottesville, Virginia does hereby <br />proclaim August 16, 1998 as WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY in remembrance of all those women and men who <br />have worked to develop a more equitable community, which acknowledges both the real similarities and the <br />important differences between women and men; and <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council urges all citizens to treat all distinctions and <br />classifications according to sex as initially suspect, examine all `facially neutral" criteria including physical <br />stature and other occupational qualifications to determine whether they have disparate impact on women; <br />promote affirmative action in the public, voluntary, and private sectors; and eliminate all unjust discrimination <br />and prejudice against women and ensure equality of rights, privileges and responsibilities for all women and <br />men. <br />Signed and sealed this 17th day of August, 1998. <br />• <br />Virginia Daugherty <br />Mayor <br />