National Women's Defense League

The National Women’s Defense League (NWDL) is a national nonpartisan organization dedicated to preventing sexual harassment and protecting survivors through research, advocacy, and survivor support. We are a coalition of advocates, political and legislative staff, lobbyists, policymakers, and survivors from across the country working toward a future where everyone is respected in the workplace and where sexual harassment is not tolerated. 

NWDL was founded in 2022 by two political advocates, Emma and Sarah, in the wake of the #MeToo collective outcry. News cycle after news cycle, they watched women risk everything to call out harassment, while the ramifications for perpetrators were hard-fought for and inconsistent, and the attention from media and decision makers was fleeting.** They saw a systemic problem with a glaring need for stronger and more coordinated advocacy, better policy approaches and more robust support for survivors. Joined by a diverse group of advocates, experienced campaigners, and survivors, NWDL was formed and aligned around a state-level strategy and a nonpartisan approach. The organization’s first priority would be taking on the policy makers themselves: putting an end to lawmaker harassment in statehouses across the country. As the organization begins the work of listening, learning and advocating, the founding leadership is ultimately driven by a shared belief that speaking truth to power should not be the burden of survivors alone.

Emma Davidson Tribbs and Sarah Jane Higginbotham met while working in national state politics, and have spent years advocating in statehouses across the country on some of the toughest issues, and advising national organizations on state affairs. Their personal experiences with sexual harassment and the experiences of their colleagues combined with their advocacy expertise puts them in a unique position to build out much needed national infrastructure that can change the game and, ultimately, empower advocates in states to lead winning campaigns.