Southwest Women's Law Center

Job Security for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors

In its first year of operation, the Southwest Women’s Law Center identified a gap in New Mexico laws regarding economic security for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault: the lack of job security for survivors who need time off to obtain protective orders, consult with attorneys, meet with law enforcement officials, participate in court proceedings and address the abuse in their lives. SWLC provides research, analysis and technical expertise to advocates service providers and the Governor’s Domestic Violence Leadership Commission on this issue.

Family Planning Benefits

As part of its efforts to ensure that all women, regardless of race, income, geographic location or immigration status, have access to family planning services, the Southwest Women’s Law Center launched an effort to increase eligibility and utilization of a special Medicaid program know as the “Family Planning Waiver”. SWLC’s work focuses on the complex regulatory issues that confront the state health care providers and patients in implementing and maximizing participation in this important public program.

Equal Pay for Women

Lilly Ledbetter, has been part of the Southwest Women’s Law Center’s continuing efforts to bring attention to pay inequity while also promoting state and national legislation aimed at closing the wage gap.

Economic Justice for Women

SWLC’s first programmatic effort in this area has been to ensure that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in New Mexico are able to participate in court proceedings, obtain orders of protection and consult with attorneys and law enforcement without risking the loss of their jobs. 

Reproductive Health and Rights

SWLC is a founding member of the New Mexicans for Responsible Sexuality Education (NMRSE), a coalition of advocates, professionals, religious leaders, policy makers, parents, and students working together to provide advocacy, information, and support for age appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive sexuality health education.
For more information on NMRSE, visit http://www.nmrse.org/Home_Page.html

Denial of Healthcare Services

The Southwest Women’s Law Center (SWLC) continues to lead efforts in New Mexico to ensure that patients have the right to make their own healthcare decisions without having their providers withhold or deny access to services based on the providers’ own personal beliefs.

Educational Equity for Girls

The School Athletics Equity Act or HB 432 was unanimously passed by the New Mexico Legislature and signed into law by Governor Richardson on April 7, 2009. Introduced by Representative Danice Picraux and heavily advocated for by the Southwest Women’s Law Center, the law is intended to promote equal athletics opportunities for girls and boys in New Mexico’s public schools. HB 432 takes effect in August of 2011. For a copy of the act, click here.

Women's Access to Healthcare

In order to ensure that women’s healthcare concerns are addressed in the process of national reform, the Southwest Women’s Law Center collaborates with Raising Women’s Voices (RWV), a national initiative aimed at creating affordable healthcare for all.

Immigrant Women's Rights

As part of our commitment to furthering reproductive justice for all women, the Southwest Women’s Law Center joined the National Coalition for Immigrant Women’s Rights (NCIWR) in 2008. It is comprised of over 40 grassroots and national advocacy organizations working together to defend and promote equality for all immigrant women and their families living and working in the United States.

Southwest Women's Law Center Newsletter

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT – SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY

The Center seeks an attorney with a demonstrated commitment to civil rights and social justice. We seek a creative, self-motivated, hard-working attorney who is committed to helping build and sustain the Center’s legal program in a challenging economic environment, including participating in strategic planning and grant writing. The Senior Staff Attorney is expected to set and promote a standard of excellence in the work product of the Center.