By Rachel Bauldree, Communications Manager, CCAW
At the Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW), Women’s Equality Day is more than a date on the calendar – it’s a powerful reminder of the progress made and the work still ahead.
Observed annually on August 26, Women’s Equality Day commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote in the United States. This milestone was the result of decades of activism by trailblazers like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth, who demanded recognition, representation, and rights.
But the fight for equality didn’t end at the ballot box. The second wave of feminism in the 1960s and 1970s brought attention to workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and domestic violence. It was during this time that the battered women’s movement emerged, challenging silence and demanding justice for survivors.
At CCAW, we believe that true equality begins with safety. Women cannot fully participate in society if they are not safe in their homes, communities, and workplaces. Our mission is rooted in the belief that ending violence against women is foundational to achieving gender equality.
Through our annual conference, year-round training, and collaborative initiatives, we equip professionals (law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, medical personnel) with the tools to identify, investigate, and prosecute crimes against women. We also support survivors with dignity and care.
Women’s Equality Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices of those who came before us and recommit to the journey ahead. As we wrote in the CCAW Women’s History Month Blog, “We realize that our history is not written for us but by us; therefore, we organize, agitate, and educate, raising the voices of our foremothers’ war cry”.
It’s also a day to honor modern change makers, those who bravely pen the pages of history today. Whether it’s a forensic nurse advocating for trauma-informed care, a tribal leader amplifying Indigenous voices, or a campus safety officer protecting students, their work continues the legacy of equality.
Women’s Equality Day reminds us that justice must be accessible to all. It’s a promise to every survivor that their story matters. It’s a commitment to every professional that their work is part of a larger movement. And it’s a declaration that we will not stop until every woman is safe, heard, and free.
