Guest post from Monica Ramirez from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)

Migrant farmworker women and other low wage immigrant women face sexual harassment and sexual violence in the workplace at alarming rates.  Despite the gravity of the problem, few women have ever come forward to seek justice for the wrongs committed against them.  These women are often afraid, unfamiliar with their rights and isolated.  In an attempt to stop these abuses and to educate community members about their rights in the face of this problem, community groups, non-profit legal organizations, anti-sexual violence advocates, community activists, and many other groups throughout the United States will join together to speak out against this problem and to conduct educational programs to inform farmworker and low-wage immigrant community members of their rights and the community resources available to help victims.

Recently, I came upon a story entitled, Women Workers Organizing Against Sexual Harassment, which featured a short video of female women who had organized against issues of sexual harassment at Guimarra Vineyards, where they are employed.  They were successful in gathering a petition of support signed by over 16,000 people and, as shown in the video, proudly submitted it to the Vineyards.

With SAAM 2010 quickly approaching, it’s important to keep in mind and highlight local movements such as these across the State.  One way that the Southern Poverty Law Center has been bringing attention to the issue of sexual harassment against farmworking women is through the Bandana Project. You can learn more about the Bandana Project here.

You can also read the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) press release regarding the Giumarra Vineyards case, here.