The OC Board of Supervisors has approved the creation of an Orange County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls in efforts to promote gender equity and highlight critical issues affecting females in the community.
The commission will be tasked with conducting research on the experiences of women and girls throughout the county and creating an annual report to be presented to the board and public. Information gathered will then be used to lay out the commission’s priorities and initiatives for the upcoming year, officials said.
The ultimate goal of the group will be to improve gender inequities in health, employment and representation.
The county previously had such a commission from 1975 to 1991, but it was dissolved due to lack of funding. Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee lobbied his fellow supervisors for its return and allocated $100,000 from his district discretionary funds to get the commission up and running.
“I brought forth this item as we celebrate Women’s History Month. It’s a way for the County of Orange to take more action protecting advancing women’s rights,” Chaffee said. “This month is not just a celebration of the remarkable achievements and contributions of women throughout history, but a reminder of the ongoing journey toward gender equity.
“We have some old issues that are still there and some new ones. As we reestablish and create a new commission,” he said, “we need to recognize how the landscape has changed since that early commission.”
The commission will be made up of seven members, five of whom will be nominated each by a supervisors and the remaining two will be approved at-large by the board. Chaffee said he recommends that when the commission is fully established, the group should create a mission statement that will act as its guide moving forward.
“We need to recognize the abilities of everyone to make our county go and be its very best,” Chaffee said. “I see this new commission providing…
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