March 21, 2023
City Council
DATE: March 21, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Melvin Willis, and Vice
Mayor Gayle McLaughlin
Subject:
Resolution in support of the United Nations Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact related to adopting this resolution.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
On February 27, 2023, the Human Rights Human
Relations Commission voted to recommend support of
CEDAW to the City Council.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City of Richmond became one of the nation’s first
Human Rights Cities in 2009 by adopting Resolution 126- 09, which adopted the United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights as a guiding principle with a commitment to setting human rights for all as a priority, and at this point in time the City Council desires to further this commitment, specifically for women’s rights.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT resolution in support of the United Nations
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) -
Councilmembers Soheila Bana (510-620-6743), Melvin
Willis (510-412-2050) and Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughlin
(510-620-6363).
DISCUSSION:
AGENDA
REPORT
March 21, 2023
As the City of Richmond is committed to equality, justice, and the advancement of human rights for all its citizens. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979, which sets out a comprehensive and legally binding framework for the promotion and protection of women’s rights.
President Jimmy Carter signed the CEDAW in 1980, but the United States along with Sudan, Somalia, Tonga, Iran, and Palau have not ratified the treaty yet, and when CEDAW ratification stalled again in 2002, then-Senator Joseph Biden lamented that “Time is a-wasting”.
Our neighboring city, San Francisco, became the first city to adopt CEDAW in 1998 and changed its political atmosphere, which led to bringing gender to the forefront and balancing the number of men and women in leadership positions, including at some of San Francisco’s highest budgeted departments, such as the Fire Department, Police Department, and Port Authority, which are all led by women.
The City of Richmond believes and has passed policy to ensure equality and equity for its employees. During Women’s History Month, it is significant to adopt this resolution to specifically call out the need to eliminate discrimination against women.
The City of Richmond would like to join the Human Rights Human Relations Commission in support of CEDAW by adopting a resolution of the Richmond City Council.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Draft Resolution