HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0953.008 2014-2016 PICKIG-L—L
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Murashige, Laura
From: Amy Monk <amymonk99@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2016 8:13 AM 21' " `' '
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in Support of Hawaii County Council Res 568-16
To:The Hawai'i County Council by email to counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov
From:Amy Monk, retired Foreign Service officer and Commissioner on the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women
Subject:Testimony in support of Res.568-16,which supports the Principles of the United Nations Convention on the Elmination of
all Forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW)
Aloha and thank you for allowing me to submit testimony on behalf of Res.568-16
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW)is a landmark international agreement
that affirms principles of fundamental human rights and equality for women around the world.
To date, 187 out of 193 United Nations member states have ratified CEDAW.The United States is one of only six countries—along
with Iran,Sudan,Somalia, Palau and Tonga—that have not ratified CEDAW where U.S.Senate ratification would require 67 yea
votes.Although President Obama supports ratification of CEDAW,the Treaty has not moved beyond hearings in the Senate Judiciary
and Foreign Relations Committees during his Administration. The Cities for CEDAW effort has succeeded in passing CEDAW
ordinances in over 250 American cities and municipalities.
CEDAW defines discrimination and provides a practical blueprint to promote human rights and open opportunities for women and
girls in all areas of society.The Treaty calls on each ratifying country to overcome barriers to discrimination in the political,social,
economic,and cultural fields.This includes addressing issues of domestic violence,trafficking,affordable health care and child care,
economic security, pay inequities, paid family leave,and educational and vocational opportunities.
In countries that have ratified CEDAW,women have partnered with their governments to engage in a national dialogue about
advancing equality for women and girls,and as a result have shaped policies to create greater safety and opportunity for women
and their families.
American women enjoy opportunities and status not available to most of the world's women,yet few would dispute that more
progress is needed.CEDAW provides an opportunity for dialogue on how to address persistent gaps in women's full equality,
particularly regarding closing the pay gap, reducing domestic violence,and stopping trafficking.
CEDAW strengthens the United States as a global leader in standing up for equality for women and girls around the world. Under
the leadership of Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton,the U.S. ratified similar treaties on genocide,torture, and race. Ratification
requires two-thirds of the Senate to stand together for women's equality and has no additional financial cost.
With CEDAW ratification efforts stalled in the U.S.Senate, local activists and public officials around the country have joined
together in the Cities for CEDAW campaign to adopt local measures reflecting CEDAW principles as a way to address barriers to full
equality for women and girls.Such measures generally require a gender analysis of city operations(e.g.,workforce, programs,
budget);an oversight body to monitor the implementation of a local CEDAW ordinance, (e.g.,Commission on the Status of Women,
Human Rights Commission, etc.);eventually leading to funding to support the implementation of CEDAW principles. Our first task is
to initiate a gender analysis which hopefully will contribute to statewide analysis and information on areas in need of improvement.
In 1998,San Francisco became the first city in the United States to adopt an ordinance reflecting the principles of CEDAW to
improve the lives of women and girls.Since its adoption,San Francisco has developed new initiatives on domestic violence homicide,
human trafficking,family friendly workplaces,and expanded language access for responders to domestic violence. I hope that in
2016,the County of Hawai'i will become the next municipality to successfully adopt a local ordinance in support of the principles of
CEDAW.
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Comm. No.
Ref. To: VI(OUW a.
1 Ref. Date SEP 0 7 2016