HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0953.001 2014-2016 PlCou4ucEL
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Murashige, Laura
From: Catherine.A.Betts@hawaii.gov
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2016 11:18 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in Support of Resolution 568-16
Attachments: Testimony in Support Resolution 568-16 9.7.16.pdf
Aloha, �,.
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Please find the Commission's testimony in support of Resolution 568-16, attached.
Thank you, caw
Cathy Betts, JD
Executive Director
Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women
235 South Beretania Street, Room 407
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
(808) 586-5758
ew'im: N®: 0164).
Ref. To: CO 4.
Ref. Date SEP 0 7 2016
1
HAWAII September 7, 2016
STATE
COMMISSION To: Chair and Presiding Officer Dru Mamo Kanuha
Vice Chair Valerie T. Poindexter
ON THE Members of the Hawaii County Council
STATUS •
OF From: Cathy Betts, Executive Director
WOMEN Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women
Re: Testimony in Support of Resolution 568-16
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..........H a On behalf of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, I would
„•.,�9 5 9 ''° �'� like to thank the Hawaii County Council for hearing this resolution and for the
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4 - :'"'° opportunity to testify in support of resolution 568-16,which would affirm the County
13? ; of Hawaii's commitment to the tenets and principles found in the Convention on the
x. q Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
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CEDAW was adopted in 1979 and entered into force in 1981. It is the only
•
human rights treaty focusing on women's rights. Almost all countries in the world
have ratified CEDAW-187 out of 194 countries. The United States is one of 7
Chair countries which have refused to ratify CEDAW. In countries which have ratified
LESLIE WILKINS CEDAW, women and girls have been able to partner with their governments to
improve the status of women and girls and institutionalize gender equity in new
COMMISSIONERS: ways. In 1998, San Francisco became the first municipality in the world to adopt the
SHERRY CAMPAGNA principles of CEDAW. Other cities and counties across the nation are moving
CYD HOFFELD towards the adoption and implementation of CEDAW as a means to ensure gender
JUDY KERN equity in all city and county services, policies, and procedures.
MARILYN LEE
AMY MONK
LISA ELLEN SMITH Although women have made major gains in the struggle for equality, Hawaii
women still only make 83 cents to a man's dollar (for the same work performed and
Executive Director with the same qualifications). This wage gap is not set to close until the year 2059.
Cathy Betts Additionally, women still serve as primary caretakers of family members, despite
also serving in the workforce and acting as sole or primary breadwinners in a
majority of Hawaii's families. While we have made some strides in preventing
Email: violence against women, Hawaii women are still at high risk of intimate partner
Catherine.a.betts@hawaii.gov
Visit us at: violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Anecdotally and statistically, it is clear that we
humanservices.hawaii.gov can and should be doing more to ensure the safety, economic self sufficiency, and
/hscsw/ equitable treatment of Hawaii's women and girls.
235 S.Beretania #407 The Commission is eager to work with the Hawaii County Committee on the
Honolulu,HI 96813 Status of Women and the Hawaii County Council to perform a gender analysis of the
Phone:808-586-5758
FAX:808-586-5756 county's varied and important functions. In doing so, we can ensure that all functions
are viewed through a lens of gender equity for women and girls. The Commission
respectfully requests that the County Council pass Resolution 568-16. Thank you for
this opportunity to provide written testimony in support of this important resolution.