HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0953.016 2014-2016 eliminating racism 1382 Kilauea Ave
empowering women Hilo,HI.96720
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2Ul6 SEP A'd 5
September 7, 2016
To: Members of the Hawaii Island County Council
From: Kathleen McGilvray, CEO, Hawaii Island YWCA
Re: Support of Resolution Number 568 16, Relating to the Elimination of Discrimination
The YWCA of Hawaii Island strongly supports the proposed resolution 568 16 Supporting the Principles
of the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW). The resolution, implements locally the principals of the United Nations CEDAW, a
groundbreaking treaty adopted in 1979 with 3 main tenants, Basic Rights, Reproductive Rights and
Human Rights. Basic rights: to vote, hold office, obtain an education, choose their spouse, own property
and exercise public functions regardless of their marital status. Reproductive Rights: to know and
understand family planning to determine the number and spacing of their children, also provisions for
maternal protection and childcare. Human Rights: to acknowledge political, legal and economic
constraints which can restrict the fundamental rights of women. To work toward the elimination of
practices which are based "on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes" or
stereotyped roles. To work toward revising educational materials and examining cultural patterns and
forces that have sustained discrimination based upon sex.
One hundred eighty six nations have ratified CEDAW, today the US is only among seven countries(Iran,
Nauru, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, and Tonga)which has not. Not willing to wait for the Federal
Government, cities across the country are modeling local laws after the CEDAW and passing them. We
hope Hawaii Island will join them.
This resolution and the accompanying study on gender equity could address issues such as: gender pay
gap, equal employment practices, medical disparities which affect women's health disproportionately,
access to nontraditional professions, educational barriers and the epidemic of violence against women.
These issues affect women but also their families and dependents since women still serve as primary
family caretakers despite serving in the workforce and acting as the sole or primary breadwinner in a
majority of Hawaii households.
We hope that Hawaii Island will join other cities and pass this resolution with funding to participate in
gender equity studies.
The YWCA of Hawaii Island is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is the elimination
of racism and empowerment of women. Established in 1919, the YWCA of Hawaii Island is part of the
YWCA USA, the oldest and largest national women's organization with the mission of empowering
women and eliminating racism.We serve over 2500 people each year through maternal and family
building programs, sex assault recovery services, teen programs and developmental preschool.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify.
&ammo No. IO I I 1,
Ref. To: (,p
Kath een McGilvray Ref. Date SEP 0 7 201
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA of Hawaii Island
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