HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 680 Draft 01 2018-2020 ...o.,-?„,177, .........
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RESOLUTION NO. 680 20
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AND URGING EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND SOCIAL
AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE PRINCIPLES INTO COVID-19 RELATED RECOVERY
INITIATIVES FOR HAWAII COUNTY.
WHEREAS, COVID-19 has magnified long-standing inequalities and the fragility of our
social, political, economic, and healthcare systems; and
WHEREAS, there is little difference in the number of men and women confirmed to be
infected by COVID-19, but men are more likely to die from the novel coronavirus, while women
are shown to be disproportionately affected by the pandemic because of their profession as well
as childcare and household responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, according to a 2012-2016 industry analysis of Hawai`i's working
population by the State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT),
women makeup roughly 50% of Hawai`i's workforce, but account for 73.3% of the employees in
the health care and social assistance sector, 68.4% of the educational services sector, 65.3% of
the finance and insurance sector, 55.6% of retail trade, 51.7% of the real estate and rental and
leasing industry, and 49.7% of the accommodation and food service industry; and
WHEREAS, the DBEDT report brings into sharp focus the fact that women hold a
significant number of jobs that are critical to providing emergency and ongoing response support
as well as other key services during the coronavirus pandemic; and
WHEREAS, according to data released by the State Department of Labor & Industrial
Relations, 9,135 individuals filed for unemployment insurance in Hawai`i County, with 57% of
those claims (5,235 filings) made by women; and
WHEREAS, a research brief by professor Gema Zamarro on gender differences in the
impact of COVID-19 found that women carried a heavier load than men in providing childcare
duties after schools closed, with 44% of women versus 14% of men reporting being the only one
in the household providing care, and a notable disparity among working parents, with 33% of
working mothers reporting they were the only care provider for their children versus 10% of
working fathers; and
WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association reported that national crises such
as natural disasters and recent COVID-19 stay-at-home lockdown measures ramp up stress
within households, increasing risk of domestic violence and child abuse because victims are
"trapped" indoors with their abuser; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations (UN) released "The Impact of COVID-19 on Women,"
a policy brief that emphasized the devastating consequences of the pandemic for women and
girls, and identified three priorities that would have meaningful impact on women and girls - and
society at large - if pursued: 1) ensure women's equal representation in all COVID-19 response
planning and decision-making; 2) drive transformative change for equality by addressing the care
economy, paid and unpaid; and 3) target women and girls in all efforts to address the socio-
economic impact of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai`i State Commission on the Status of Women (HSCSW)
published"Building Bridges, Not Walking on Backs," the nation's first feminist economic
recovery plan for COVID-19, which highlights numerous key and emerging principles and
recommendations designed to build a system that is capable of delivering gender equality; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 represents an opportunity to spend federal stimulus dollars and
enact meaningful policy in a way that is designed with gender equality in mind; now, therefore;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
County of Hawai`i's COVID-19 Task Force review the UN report on COVID-19 impacts on
women and the (HSCSW) feminist economic recovery plan to ensure coronavirus response and
recovery initiatives create a more just and resilient Hawai`i Island.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Administration is strongly urged to view this
pandemic through a gendered lens and incorporate principles of equity, inclusion, social and
economic justice, championed in the UN report and (HSCSW) plan, into County-run COVID-19
programs, into language on County printed materials and digital communications, as well as into
County initiated requests for proposals centered on COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Administration recognize the specific
vulnerability women and girls face in this pandemic and make every effort to proactively and
consistently engage with the Hawai`i County Committee on the Status of Women as well as
women and girls in our community in order to inform COVID-19 related decisions.
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BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Brian Schatz and the Honorable Mazie Hirono, United States
Senators; the Honorable Tulsi Gabbard, United States Representative; the Hawaii Island State
Delegation; the Honorable David Ige, Governor of the State of Hawai`i; Hawai`i State
Commission on the Status of Women; the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor; Roy Takemoto,
Managing Director; Barbara Kossow, Deputy Managing Director; the Administrative Head of
each County department, agency, and office; and the Hawai`i County Committee on the Status of
Women.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i, this 8th day of July , 2020 •
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
-72.")ea
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i CHUNG X
DAVID X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EOFF X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
County of Hawaii on July 8, 2020
KIERKIEWICZ X
LEE LOY X
ATTEST: POINDEXTER X
RICHARDS X
VILLEGAS X
9 0 0 0
Reference: C-992/Waived GREDC
TY CLERK CHA RPERSON&PRESIDING FFICER RESOLUTION NO. 680 20
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