Time’s Up Defense Fund Could Have Major Impact, but Also Faces Conflicts

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Date: 

January 12, 2018

Excerpt: 

Financing legal defense for women facing discrimination had fallen out of favor in the philanthropic world, says Carol Robles-Roman, CEO of Legal Momentum, which does women’s legal defense.

“There’s been an underfunding of legal services for women who have been subject to sexual harassment and assault,” she says. “It’s like nobody was guarding the henhouse, and bad conduct was allowed to flourish.”. . . 

Robles-Roman says she also hopes the fund sends a loud signal to girls that sexual harassment and discrimination are illegal, and that something can be done about it. 

“As a culture we are summarily unqualified to deal with this,” she says. “This legal defense fund changes that paradigm. I think it’s going to give girls a message that these are rights that we have. You have a right not to be harassed, or sexually assaulted, and there are professional people in place to assist you and make sure it doesn’t happen.”