US President Joe Biden has signed two more executive orders on Monday to establish the White House Gender Policy Council and address sexual violence in the education field.
The orders, signed on International Woman’s Day, are for ensuring gender equality and equity throughout the federal government, CNN reported.
“We know that the full participation of all people, including women and girls, across all aspects of our society is essential to the economic well-being, health and security of our nation, of the world,” CNN quoted the co-chair of the Gender Policy Council Julissa Reynoso as saying.
The White House Gender Policy Council will have the mandate to try and remove systemic bias and discrimination, including sexual harassment. The council’s broad scope includes taking on many challenges like the structural barriers to women’s participation in the labor force, wage and wealth gaps and the caregiving needs of American families, CNN reported.
Health care concerns, equal opportunity in leadership and promoting gender equality worldwide through diplomacy will also will be under its jurisdiction.
The second executive order is targeting a guarantee that education is free from sexual violence.The order requires the US Education Department to review all of its existing regulations, orders, guidance and policies to ensure consistency with the Biden administration’s policy that students be guaranteed education free from sexual violence.