With Roe v. Wade vulnerable, El Paso City Council to consider 'long overdue' women's rights commission

Anthony Jackson, El Paso Times
·2 min read

El Paso City Council is set to vote on establishing a commission or board to protect women's rights Tuesday.

The move comes days after a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court indicated that justices would overturn Roe v. Wade and leave the legality of abortion up to individual states.

District 7 Rep. Henry Rivera introduced the item to the agenda, and it's sponsored by Reps. Peter Svarvzbein, Alexsandra Annello and Cassandra Hernandez.

Rivera said the board or commission would be composed of women representing a diverse section across El Paso "and broadly representative of the community at large with regard to race, ethnicity, age, socio-economic status, LGBTQ+ status, profit and non-profit sectors."

Rivera called on men to unite and support women because actions taken against women's rights affect everyone. Rivera added that if it's voted for, it will serve as a permanent advisory board to the City Council as they make "decisions related to the well-being and advancement of women and their families."

Annello said creating a commission or board has been long overdue.

"It is necessary, because we're we're going to need to have advocates, we're going to need to have resources, we're going to have to have institutional knowledge of what is happening in this regard," Annello said. "I think there are a lot of people in this community who want to do this work and want to be able to help us utilize the resources we have effectively."

Annello said she hopes the City Council can set up a board or commission within a month's time if it passes, adding that she wants to see the scope of women's issues broadened.

More: How many abortions are actually performed in the US? Rates have declined for decades.

More: 'Sense of urgency': Senate to vote Wednesday on bill that would make abortion legal nationally

"Equity of pay, healthcare and childcare are all things that should be taken on by this commission," Annello said. "I'm hoping that we as a council just say this is a commission of women who need to be looking at women's issues in our community, our state and even in other areas around us."

Hernandez said the commission would be advisory in nature as City Council would have the ultimate oversight, but it could lead to a change in policy.

El Pasoans join Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, on the sidewalk outside the U.S. Federal Courthouse in El Paso, Texas, raising their voice to protect abortion access.
El Pasoans join Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, on the sidewalk outside the U.S. Federal Courthouse in El Paso, Texas, raising their voice to protect abortion access.

Hernandez said this will be a perfect position for people who want to get involved and make a change.

"If you're angry about what's happening in our country, get involved, register to vote and make sure that we are electing officials who represent our best interests at hand, including reproductive health."

More: Pro-choice advocates urge El Pasoans to protect abortion access after Roe v. Wade leak

More: 'Not one more': Feminists march against violence for International Women's Day in Juárez

Anthony Jackson may be reached at ADJackson@elpasotimes.com and @TonyAnjackson on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso City Council to vote on commission to protect women's rights