HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0953.011 2014-2016 iolc u
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Murashige, Laura
From: Hawaii Democratic Womens Caucus <hidemwomen@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2016 11:35 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Resolution 5618-16
Attachments: HSDWC Reso 5618 CEDAW Hawaii County 0916.doc
Attached is testimony in support of the resolution.
Hawaii State Democratic Womens' Caucus
Jeanne Ohta&Amy Monk
Co-Chairs
http://hawaiidwc.wordpress.com
facebook/hawaiidwc
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September 4, 2016
To: Members of the Hawaii County Council
From: Jeanne Y. Ohta, Co-Chair
Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus
RE: Resolution 568-16
Position: SUPPORT
The Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus writes in support of Resolution 568-16 which proposes
the affirmation of the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW) for the County of Hawaii.
CEDAW was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and entered into force in 1981. We are
asking the Council to adopt these principles because the United States is still one of only seven countries
not to have ratified the convention. Hawaii County would join the City and County of Honolulu, the
State of Hawaii, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Miami-Dade County and other municipalities in
the Cities for CEDAW effort.
The purpose of the convention is to improve the status of women, to improve healthcare, employment,
economic opportunity, education, and to eliminate violence against women.
This is an opportunity for Hawaii County to make ending all forms of discrimination a priority; to
prevent discrimination and to ensure gender equality in the county. We believe that sexual assault and
domestic violence survivors should be treated with respect,the same respect that survivors of other
crimes are given; and that law enforcement officers should receive on-going training in the handling of
those cases.
The adoption of this measure would encourage the county to work with the Hawaii State Commission of
the Status of Women and the County of Hawaii Committee on the Status of Women to perform an
analysis of gender equality in the County, to include: the examination of race, disability, immigration
status, sexual orientation, and other demographic characteristics linked to gender.
This is also an opportunity to ensure that women in Hawaii County have pay equity; that their
workplaces are safe from sexual harassment; and that they have equal opportunity for advancement.
We respectfully request that you pass Resolution 5618-16. Thank you for this opportunity to submit
testimony.
Hawai'i State Democratic Women's Caucus,404 Ward Avenue Suite 200, Honolulu, HI 96814
hidemwomen@gmail.com