REFUGEE WOMEN'S NETWORL INC.
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Advocacy Program 
 
RWN has been involved in advocacy activities since its inception, advocating on behalf of refugees, immigrants and women on a multitude of issues pertinent to their experiences. RWN participates in advocacy efforts on several different levels.Advocacy
  • National, state and local policy initiatives representing the interest of refugee and immigrant women.
  • Cross-discipline initiatives like health, economic empowerment, housing, community development representing the voices of refugees and immigrants
  • Empowerment of refugee and immigrant women to find their own voice.

 More recently, RWN has undertaken the following activities

  • RWN opposed the Georgia Senate Bill 67 which would mandate drivers's license tests to be conducted only in English. BryAnn Chen, Executive Director's opinion against the Bill was printed on April 21, 2010 Atlanta Journal Constitution in the Pro & Con section. To view a PDF of the article, please click here. RWN was also quoted on Human Rights Angle, a project of the Center for Civil and Human Rights, regarding the Georgia Senate Bill 67.  
  • RWN started e-action alerts called RWN Advocates in April 2010. The issues that RWN has advocates so far are opposing anti-immigrant bill in Arizona and urging people take action on ratifying CEDAW (Convention on Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women). Sign up for RWN newsletter at the top of the page to receive RWN Advocates in your inbox.
  • Using RWN facebook page to inform and encourage action. Join RWN on Facebook 
  • RWN presents a workshop on "Refugee and Immigrant Women Leaders take Charge of Building a Strong Community" at Kennesaw State University.

 Past Advocacy activities include

  • RWN Executive Director, BryAnn Chen is the co-chair of Georgia Coalition of Refugee Stakeholders. The Coalition seeks to brings together the resettlement agencies, mutual assistance associations and refugees to discuss issues, challenges, roles and responsibilities so that refugees in Georgia receive appropriate services and support to start their new lives.
  • RWN participates in the Georgia Refugee Public Policy and Education Initiative. The initiative is a coalition of refugee-serving agencies and refugee leaders working to gather accurate data on refugee resettlement issues and bring forth policy recommendations
  • RWN participated in the Immigrant Legislative Workgroup for the 2009 Legislative Session. The workgroup is a collaboration between immigrant, refugee and women’s rights organizations. The workgroup discussed issues that affected our constituency, developed talking points on each of the bill proposed. RWN participated in mobilizing our constituents especially on a bill that would have made English the official language in Georgia. The bill would have impacted refugees and immigrants ability to take drivers license exam in their own language.
  • RWN co-sponsored New Americans Breakfast, where legislators, and their staff were invited to interact with refugees and immigrants and learn about issues that impact this community.
  • RWN organized a letter writing drive to oppose the U.S. Custom and Immigration Services(USCIS) requiring immigrant women of 11-26 years old to receive an HPV vaccine as a condition of getting their legal permanent status or green card.
  • RWN participates in the Georgia LGBTQQI Domestic and Sexual Assault Taskforce (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex)

For more information, contact Satyam Barakoti, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator,  at 404-299-0180 x 226 or info@riwn.org