Challenges to Civil Liberties in Connecticut
an article by Danielle Brauer

On December 8th I listened to a lecture by Teresa Younger, Executive Director of the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union (CCLU). The event was sponsored by UCONN Amnesty International. The CCLU is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization who's mission is to assure that the Bill of Rights and the rights guaranteed by the CT Constitution are preserved for each new generation.

Ms. Younger discussed many issues, such as woman's rights. She said there are laws stating that if you work for a company that has less then 50 employees and you get pregnant then the company has the right to fire you. She explained how this is an example of sex discrimination because men cannot give birth. One of the problems with Maternity Leave is that many times a person can return to their job but will have a different position at their job; they can be demoted.

She discussed immigration rights and noted how many times woman will get deported, their children thrown into the government system of foster care. Ms. Younger noted the controversy around birth control and the lack there of, when compared to viagra. For men viagra is an acceptable way to alter sexual relations, but for women birth control is less acceptable. There are major issues surrounding privacy rights after 9/11. Now foreigners face "questions raised to give their immigration status before they are treated at hospitals." Because of this many women do not want to go to hospitals to report rape or abuse.

For more info on the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union, go to: www.cclu.org.

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Prospects for progress in women's equality
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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, CHILDREN

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