Vásquez is chair of the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and lives in Rancho Peñasquitos.

In my work providing pro bono legal aid at a restraining order clinic, I witness the importance of knowing one’s rights.

I vividly remember meeting a young woman training to be a body builder who sought our help at the clinic. Tall and fit, she projected confidence but spoke softly.

I interviewed her to prepare a declaration that would be submitted in court seeking an order keeping an older man from contacting her. We were finalizing the document when she said something that caused my heart to drop. The young woman revealed that she thought the situation was in some way her fault because she gave the man a ride home knowing he was drunk.

In some way, she felt that by allowing the man into her car, she had surrendered the right to say “no.”

I put my hand on her shoulder and said, “Even if you asked him to your house, opened the door in a nightgown and consented to his touch but then changed your mind, he wouldn’t have the right to touch you again. It wasn’t your fault — it was his fault.”

The relief in her eyes told me she had heard the truth.

How is it in 2024 there are so many women living in the “land of the free” — yet we still don’t know our rights as a human being?

Experiences like this one inform my service as a member of the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. My colleagues on the commission and I share a commitment to advocating on areas of concern to women’s lives and needs in San Diego County.

One of our compelling initiatives is coming to fruition with the Know Your Rights Symposium on March 9. This event — one of three such events planned for the coming year — will provide a half-day of no-cost education, equipping women and girls with the knowledge necessary to navigate the complex legal landscape that impacts their lives directly. We have expert attorneys donating their time to present on women’s rights in employment, health care, housing and immigration.

The need for such an initiative is underscored by recent statistics and events that illustrate the challenges women continue to face. Consider the gender pay gap, a persistent issue that sees women earning 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to a 2023 analysis by the Pew Research Center — a disparity even more pronounced for women of color. By educating women about their employment rights, we can arm them with the tools to challenge and change these disparities.

As another example, the #MeToo movement has spotlighted the pervasive issue of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, revealing a critical need for women to understand the legal avenues available for protection and recourse.

Another example is the fight for reproductive rights. Recent legislation in some U.S. states restricting access to abortion services underscores the vital importance of understanding one’s rights to make informed decisions about one’s health and body.

Funded with a grant from the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, the Know Your Rights Symposium will introduce women to legal rights and free legal resources. We have planned two future Know Your Rights events: one will focus the timely issue of trafficking and will also be open to the public. And a companion educational event is being designed for incarcerated women at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility — especially those expected to be released within six months.

We’re providing translation and interpretation services, along with childcare and nourishing food, to make the event accessible to as many women as possible.

While the journey towards gender equity is ongoing, education can inspire and equip women to create a more just and equitable society. By coming together to learn, share and advocate, we are not just educating individual women — we are elevating our entire community.