Department of Education Aims to Silence Survivors of Sexual Violence and Harassment

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the Department of Education’s proposed Title IX regulation:

 “This draft rule is a cruel attempt to silence sexual assault survivors and limit their educational opportunity and could lead schools to do even less to prevent and respond to sexual violence and harassment. The Secretary of Education’s continued failure to protect students’ civil rights and ensure they are able learn in safe environments is unacceptable and must be stopped. We call on all who support equal opportunity to participate in this comment process and make clear that fundamental American values of fairness and equality will not be abandoned and that schools must provide all students an educational environment free from sex discrimination and violence.”

 The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.