San Francisco Commision on Status Women

The San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) was established in 1975 and became a permanent Department under the City Charter in 1994. In 1998, San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to adopt a local ordinance reflecting the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Commission has received national and international attention for its implementation of this Women's Human Rights Treaty, including the 2006 National Association of Counties Achievement Award. The Commission's projects include Gender Analysis, the Justice & Courage Project, Violence Against Women Prevention and Intervention Grants, the SF Human Trafficking Collaborative, and Gender Equality in the Workplace. The Commission's mission is to ensure equitable treatment and foster the advancement of women and girls in the City and County of San Francisco through policies, legislation, and programs that focus on populations in need.