HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

123

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging private organizations, both secular and religious, TO ensure gender equality in their leadership positions.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, equality between men and women is essential to the progress, sustainable development, and effective governance of the State, the nation, and society, and is of fundamental and unequaled importance; and

 

     WHEREAS, gender equality is the cornerstone of a cohesive society and both government and private organizations have acknowledged the detriment to society incurred by the previous exclusion of women from education, business, and government activities; and

 

     WHEREAS, over the last century, many have fought to remedy past wrongs and provide opportunities for women to participate in and lead private and public institutions; and   

 

     WHEREAS, the late Patsy Mink championed such efforts by co-authoring and shepherding the passage of Title IX, which secured equal opportunities for women in education and athletics; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State is dedicated to ensuring equality in all areas of public and private life; and

 

     WHEREAS, the continued unfair treatment and exclusion of women from leadership roles in private institutions, particularly those institutions impacting the social and moral development of the people, are inconsistent with these efforts and the fundamental principles of the State and the nation; and

 

     WHEREAS, those making decisions affecting the direction of these influential organizations should be representative of those for whom the decisions are made; and

 

     WHEREAS, for the continued progress and stability of our society, equality must be instilled in all private institutions, and women should be allowed to assume both secular and religious leadership roles; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is crucial for the development of positive self esteem for young women that they perceive that all career options are available to them, whether it be in the secular world or to become ordained as a minister, priest of reverend within the religious world; and

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that all private organizations, including faith-based organizations, are urged to open leadership roles and positions of influence to women; now, therefore,

 

                BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the American Civil Liberties Union, Executive Director of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Executive Director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and President and all members of Interfaith Alliance Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Gender equality