“Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
– Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

NEW YORK, NY – In response to Friday’s passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sarah Costa, executive director of the Women’s Refugee Commission, issued the following statement:

“All of us at the Women’s Refugee Commission mourn the passing of Justice Ginsburg – an unparalleled champion for human rights and gender equality. The world has lost a stalwart of social justice.

“From her early days as an attorney fighting for equality for both women and men to her thoughtful dissenting opinions as a Supreme Court Justice, Justice Ginsburg was a trailblazer for gender equality, changing our nation for the better.

“Ginsburg also authored the majority opinion in the historic Olmstead v. L.C. decision, which held that persons with disabilities have a right to live in communities, not segregated within institutions.

“Her role in the advancement of women’s reproductive health and rights is nothing short of historic. Just this past July – in what would be her final vote on reproductive rights – she and Justice Sonia Sotomayor stood as the lone dissenting voices on a ruling that would make it easier for employers to deny employees insurance coverage for contraception.

“Like millions of people around the world, we remain inspired by Justice Ginsburg’s work and her words. Hers is a legacy that will undoubtedly inspire champions of social justice for generations to come.”

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