Welcome to the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women (OCSW).  We are inside of the Will Rogers Building, located at 2401 North Lincoln Blvd. You may contact our office at 405/522-6897, or cell, 405/401-6970. Our email address is ocswadmin@omes.ok.gov.

We are a non-partisan state Commission, and we help enable women to make their maximum contribution to society. We do not provide direct services; instead, we inform and educate the Legislature, Executive, and Oklahoma citizens about women’s issues. We partner with other organizations and agencies statewide to provide resource information, expertise and input on women’s issues.

OCSW provides leadership and direction. We celebrate the successes of Oklahoma women and encourage women in leadership. Our Appointments Project (TAP), located under membership, directly assists women who apply for appointments on city, local, and state boards, commissions, and councils.

Our LINKs  is one-click  registry of organizations who support our mission and vision.

Annual activities include, but are not limited to:

• The Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame 
• Community Conversations, coordinated with other distinguished partners; 
•  The Kate Barnard Award, awarded  to honor women in public service who have made a difference in Oklahoma; and 
•  The Guardian Award, which is given to a legislator who has championed legislation for women's issues. 

Our Business meetings are open to the public and are held on the fourth Thursday monthly, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Current meeting locations are listed below.

Next Meeting:  Annual Retreat and Business Meeting

Thursday, August 26, 2021
Location TBA

NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Location:  TBA

Swearing in of New Officers

On Thursday, June 24, during the monthly scheduled business meeting, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt officially swore in the elected 2021-2022 officers. The ceremony took place at the Oklahoma Judicial Center, 2100 N.Lincoln Blvd., Grand Room.

From left to right, Dr. Delores Runnels, Immediate Past Chair, Victoria Woods, Chair, The Honorable Governor, Kevin Stitt, Molly Wehrenberg, Vice Chair, Dr. Nyla Khan, Advisory Council Chair, Karen Sneary, Secretary, and Shondra McCage, Financial Officer.  Picture provided by Commissioner Linda Haneborg

 2021 Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame 

Due to the impact of Covid-19, the 2021 Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame was cancelled. 

The Growing Epidemic of Human Trafficking in Oklahoma!

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT:   The White Paper On Human Trafficking!

The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women (OCSW) became interested in the Epidemic of Human Trafficking in Oklahoma when the then-House Majority Leader and OCSW Commissioner Pam Peterson invited the Commission to co-host the 2012 Interim Study on Human Trafficking. In 2014, following an in-depth study of the issue, OCSW sponsored a state-wide Summit and published a report on Human Trafficking.  The link to the white paper below seeks to dispel misconceptions about human trafficking; explain the types of human trafficking in Oklahoma; highlight barriers to data collection in Oklahoma and nationally; call attention to the resources in our state to rehabilitate survivors of human trafficking; and underline recommendations that would improve trauma-informed services for those who have experienced human trafficking and improve the lives of vulnerable populations in our state. The white paper concludes that collaboration between various groups and organizations throughout the state, including victim service provider agencies and law enforcement, would provide greater accuracy to the data. We believe that 2021 is pivotal to shape Oklahoma’s human trafficking response. Our state can take the actions listed in this white paper in order to improve the lives of our vulnerable populations. White Paper on Human Trafficking

Oklahoma is now one of 34 states to be selected for a new federal grant to aid sex trafficking survivors. Over the next three years, $500,000 will be designated to help find temporary housing, work programs, and other needs for those who have been bought and sold in the metro. The unsettling reality is, for every criminal caught, there are even more victims trying to escape the dangers of this hidden crisis. There are also many misconceptions about where the true danger lies (https://www.news9.com/story/5f6433b3915d960c26aff0c2/hidden:-oklahomas-human-trafficking-crisis.)

In an effort to keep Oklahomans aware of the epidemic of human trafficking in our state,the Commission on the Status of Women recently conducted a community conversation with a group of local experts to discuss some of the little known facts concerning human trafficking. To check out the conversation, visit our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/okcsw/ . 

State passes House Bill 1892, May 4, 2021, an act relating to human trafficking and child exploition. To read the extend of the bill, click here:  HB1892