In this issue:

NYSTRS Annual Delegates Meeting End Violence Against Women and Girls Condolences Happy Birth Day! NYSUT Member Benefit

by Alison Silvestri

On November 4-5, I attended the 98th annual meeting of NYSTRS delegates in Saratoga Springs, NY. The informative event included seminars on topics such as the basics of NYSTRS, Social Security, and Divorce and Death Benefits. The conference concluded with the unopposed nomination and re-election of one teacher member to the NYSTRS Board. He will serve a 3-year term working for all NYSTRS active members.

Members should check their yearly statement for important information about years of service, tiers and in-service death benefit beneficiaries. The statement format has been consolidated to a more concise four pages. Additionally, members should sign up for a MyNYSTRS  account at nystrs.org . This is a fast and secure way to access your most current information, sign up for a PREP seminar or contact NYSTRS by a secure messaging portal.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign began on November 25 and culminates on December 10, Human Rights Day. It is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. In recent years, the voices of survivors and activists have reached a crescendo that cannot be silenced any more. Advocates understand that while the names and contexts may differ across geographic locations, women and girls everywhere are experiencing extensive abuse and their stories need to be brought to light. This is why the UNiTE Campaign's global advocacy theme this year is:  Orange the World: #HearMeToo

ALARMING FIGURES 1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner Only 52% of women married or in a union freely make their own decisions about sexual relations, contraceptive use and health care  Worldwide, almost 750 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday; while 200 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) 1 in 2 women killed worldwide were killed by their partners or family in 2012; while only 1 out of 20 men were killed under similar circumstances 71% of all human trafficking victims worldwide are women and girls, and 3 out of 4 of these women and girls are sexually exploited Violence against women is as serious cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer, and a greater cause of ill health than traffic accidents and malaria combined.