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Safety Committee

Statement of Purpose

Women and girls of all ages, income levels, racial and ethnic communities, sexual orientations, and gender identities continue to experience violence in the form of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, trafficking, and gun violence. 

The Commission works with community partners to find policy and practical solutions to these serious issues to help prevent violence, provide adequate services for survivors, and eradicate all forms of gender-based violence. 

Goals

The goal of the Safety Committee within the Washington State Women’s Commission is to provide assistance and support for the Commission’s initiatives. The committee achieves this by fostering collaboration amongst community partners, service providers, and impacted individuals throughout the State. The committee members possesses expertise and comprehension of the social, cultural, and institutional barriers women and girls experience in unsafe spaces, specifically involving 1) gender-based violence, including domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls; 2) community safety, including the need for gun safety, safe use of technology, and public safety; and 3) mental and behavioral health, including toxic masculinity, mental health and substance abuse, and gender-based violence prevention. By working together, the committee aims to address and mitigate the impact of these factors on the safety of women in the state.

  1. Monitoring state legislation and advocating for legislation affecting women’s safety.
  2. Collaborating with state agencies to evaluate systems, programs, and policies that impact women and girls.
  3. Coordinating with the peer Commission committees and Human Rights commission to address shared concerns.
  4. Serving as a liaison between the public and private sectors to identify, reduce and/or eliminate barriers to women's safety.

Model Sexual Harassment Policies

The Women's Commission worked with pro bono employment attorneys at Gordon Rees’ Seattle office to develop a model sexual harassment policy intended for small employers who may not have a Human Resources department.

    The Safety Committee worked to identify various model policies businesses can choose to adopt to prevent and raise awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace.

    Disclaimer: These sample sexual harassment policies are provided pursuant to RCW 43.119.040 for informational purposes only. The Washington State Women’s Commission is not liable for damages of any kind due to the use of these policies or the language therein. These  policies do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for your own judgment, opinions, or independent research on appropriate sexual harassment policies for your particular entity. You should work with your legal counsel to ensure that any policy you adopt is appropriate for your entity and complies with applicable law.