HILO, Hawaii – Gender equality was discussed at the Hawaii County Council on September 7, as the local lawmakers voted to approve a resolution in support of the United Nations’ CEDAW, or the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

As testifiers in support of the resolution explained, the United States is one of only 7 countries that has not ratified the convention.

Valerie Poindexter brought forward the measure, which affirms the principles of the UN Convention, and urges the county to work with the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and the County of Hawaii’s Committee on the Status of Women to perform an analysis on gender equality.