The National Organization for Women's fact sheet on women and equal pay has been newly updated -- but the data only goes to show that women are still not being paid equally. For full-time, year-round workers, women are paid on average only 78 percent of what men are paid; for women of color, the gap is significantly wider. These wage gaps stubbornly remain despite the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, and a variety of legislation prohibiting employment discrimination.

Coming to this year's National NOW conference (June 19-21 in Indianapolis) will be Dr. Julianne Malveaux, noted economist, author and the 15th President of Bennett College for Women and Barbara Ehrenreich, noted writer and author of such titles as "Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream" and "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America."

We need to increase recognition that the wage gap is a problem for women and families, and what better way than humor? Enter NOW's Equal Pay Cartoon Contest and help us spread the word about pay equity.

The winner will be announced on Equal Pay Day, Tuesday April 28. She or he will see the cartoon on the NOW website, and will receive a coffee mug printed with the cartoon, the winning caption, and the winner's name. Entries must be received by Friday, April 24.

After years of campaigning for access to emergency contraception (EC), the first big victory came in 2006, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made EC available without a prescription -- but only to women 18 years and older.

As a first step toward universal paid leave, ask your representative to support upcoming legislation to guarantee federal workers four weeks of paid parental leave for a new child.

Countless military women and military spouses are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. It is estimated that rates of marital abuse in the military are two to five times higher than civilian rates of domestic violence. Moreover, one in three w…

Could the tide be turning for equal marriage in the United States? "We have an uphill battle ahead," said Gandy. "But supporters of equal marriage just got the push we needed to know that we are making a difference and our goal is even closer."

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her Below the Belt column, "Here are the words I want to hear from our new commander in chief: 'Our servicewomen deserve dignity and respect, and that's an order!'

With plans to launch more U.S. troops into Afghanistan, it is urgent that the new administration address head-on the shocking treatment of the women who make up a critical portion of our military troops. For years, the very fact that there are women in the military seems to have been forgotten or treated as an afterthought -- whether it's about veterans' benefits, recognition for their service, medical care, combat service or troop deployment."

Among the conference speakers will be Hon. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) who is the Democratic chair of the Women's Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives, and whose compelling personal story of living on welfare informs her advocacy. Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, who unseated Ken Blackwell (notorious for the Ohio election scandals during the 2004 presidential elections), will be another treat –- especially since she is also a candidate for the U. S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio).

President Obama started the regulatory process to rescind the dangerous and unethical "provider conscience" healthcare refusal rule. But we need your help! Take a few minutes to send a message supporting the rescinding of this rule that dramatically undermines women's access to a wide range of reproductive health services.

Some stories are so horrific they leave you speechless. A nine-year-old girl from Brazil is abused and raped for three years by her stepfather, resulting in a pregnancy -- with twins. The mother arranges an abortion, which is permitted under Brazilian law in the case of rape or life endangerment. The 80-pound child qualified on both counts.

Heart-wrenching, but sadly that's not where it stopped. Brazilian Catholic Archbishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, supported by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, head of the Vatican Congregation for Bishops, pronounced excommunication for the doctors involved in the abortion and the child's mother. And the rapist? He's in protective custody now, but apparently his sins aren't so grave as to merit expulsion from his church. When asked why, Sobrinho declared abortion the more serious sin.

How does that make sense?

Low cost contraceptives that had long been provided by campus and community health centers will be available again, thanks to a provision in the Omnibus Appropriations Act just passed by Congress for fiscal year 2009.

NOW President Kim Gandy said, "NOW cheers the formation of the White House Council on Women and Girls, which was created by executive order of President Barack Obama today. It was a pleasure for me to be at the White House to hear the president make this commitment to supporting women and girls in such strong and unequivocal terms. It was a heartening moment for those of us who have worked so hard for this day."

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her Below the Belt column, "When I told this happily-ever-after 'stimulus story' in my president's report at NOW's board meeting last weekend, several members said they wished more people knew what NOW and other advocacy groups really do in Washington. In reality, this work is often tedious, always time-consuming, and definitely not glamorous, but it's oh-so-important to women's lives.

So in that spirit, I offer this glimpse into NOW's efforts 'behind-the-scenes' during the past several months to ensure that women are positively impacted by the economic recovery package and that they play an integral role in the revitalization of our economy and our country. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president on Feb. 17.

But what happened in the lead up to that day, and what's NOW got to do with it?"

Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy

As we mark International Women's Day on March 8, an increasing number of women around the world find themselves and their families in dire economic circumstances. While we as a nation focus on the economic realities here in the U.S., we must not let global starvation, violence, trafficking, and the lack of health care, clean water, and basic necessities fall lower on our priority list.

Nearly one billion people live on $1 or less a day, and women constitute about two-thirds of that number. Women in poor countries face daily struggles and life-threatening challenges. Hunger and disease continue to cause death and suffering for millions. Even in developed nations, women in low-income families struggle to provide food and shelter.