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SECOND PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO 17-6302
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
AN AMENDMENT TO PREVENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Cook County prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace; and
WHEREAS, in recent weeks there has been an outpouring of complaints of sexual harassment within Illinois government and political activities; and
WHEREAS, inspired by the #MeToo social media campaign that encouraged individuals to raise awareness about sexual harassment, women in the Illinois Legislature created the #ILSayNoMore that encouraged individuals to share their experiences of sexual harassment within the State Capitol and Illinois politics; and
WHEREAS, more than 200 people signed an open letter circulated by women involved in Illinois politics that called for "challenging every elected official, every candidate, and every participant in our democratic process who is culpable"; and
WHEREAS, sexual harassment thrives in silence, such that all stakeholders need to continually work to eliminate all forms of sexual harassment; and
WHEREAS, sexual harassment and abuse of power are toxic and unacceptable in the workplace and will not be tolerated; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is committed to providing a workplace that is free from sexual harassment; and
WHEREAS, all persons have a right to feel safe and work in an environment free from sexual harassment; and
WHEREAS, Illinois Public Act 100-554 requires the timely adoption of an ordinance or resolution by all units of government in Illinois establishing a policy to prohibit sexual harassment; and
WHEREAS, Cook County's existing policies prohibiting sexual harassment should be expanded to include additional protections and codified in an ordinance;
THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED, that Cook County reinforces its policy of prohibiting sexual harassment and the Cook County Board of Commissioners encourages all of the separately elected Cook County offices to adopt a policy addressing the prohibition of sexual hara...
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