The GBV Task Force

Codified in the Municipal Code of Chicago, the GBV Task Force purpose  is to build a whole-of-government approach to address the pervasiveness of genderbased
violence and human trafficking. The task force shall advise the Mayor on how to:

• increase capacity and expertise within City departments to address
  gender-based violence and human trafficking;
• enhance coordination of prevention and intervention efforts among City
  departments and with key outside organizations focused on preventing gender-based
  violence and human trafficking;
•  improve law enforcement response to gender-based violence;
•  shift cultural norms on what constitutes gender-based violence and
  human trafficking and its acceptability;
•  collect, analyze, and use data and research to enhance gender-based
  violence and human trafficking intervention efforts;
• create alternate responses to gender-based violence and human
  trafficking outside of the criminal justice system; and
• reform policies that perpetuate or create opportunities for gender-based
  violence and human trafficking.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Any member of the general public may address orally, in person, or in writing; provided that oral public comment at meetings of the City Council shall be subject to the time limits set forth below. Any person who orally addresses the Taskforce shall:

1. Email madeleine.pattis@cityofchicago.org a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting and include their name, organization or affiliation, ward, and phone number.
2. limit their remarks to three minutes, and if the person intends to address more than one item, use that time, at the Chair’s direction, to address one, or several, such items;
3. limit their remarks to the subject matter appearing on the agenda of the meeting;
4. refrain from profane language, obscene conduct, or disruptive comments;
5. comply with the order of the Chair of the meeting.

Any person who submits written comments shall do so a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting.

The Chair of the meeting has authority and discretion to:

1. curtail or limit public comment if the commenter fails to comply with this Rule, and
2. allow reasonable variances from the three-minute time limit in appropriate, non-discriminatory, circumstances.

Public comment shall be limited to a total of 30 minutes.