By Eric Tegethoff, Oregon News Service

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Women’s Equality Day, observed Monday, commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. More than a century later, women have made progress, but an Oregon official says more needs to be done.

Women have made large gains in elected office across the country. In Oregon, they make up more than 40% of legislative seats, the 13th highest percentage in the country.

Libra Forde, co-chair of the Oregon Commission for Women, said the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which took effect on August 26, 1920, was a great achievement but did not end the fight for women’s advancement.

“They saw the need in their time to make things accessible to us that they didn’t have. And I think most women – particularly the women on the Commission – see the need to do the same for things that women may not have had access to before, and to carry on the torch that has been passed to us, so to speak,” Forde explained.

Forde highlighted some of the areas where Oregon lawmakers could go further, such as providing greater protection for women from domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

On August 26, 1920, the U.S. Secretary of State completed the ratification process for the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote.

While Forde acknowledged that Oregon lawmakers and state groups are doing a good job of advocating for women’s rights, she added that greater efforts are needed to protect the rights of the next generation.

“We need more than just women to do this work,” Forde said. “We all need to come together, like they did 104 years ago, and say, ‘Hey, this is important to all of us, and if we all get involved, we can all be successful.'”

The Oregon Commission for Women is one of the state’s four advocacy commissions that pushes for policies that support and protect women.