WHEREAS, the Health Commission opposes discrimination against women in any form; and,

WHEREAS, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), also known as the International Bill of Rights, has developed a universal definition of discrimination against women, and condemns all forms of discrimination against women, in civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres; and,

WHEREAS, CEDAW was ratified by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979 and signed by then President Jimmy Carter in 1980, although the treaty was never ratified by the United States Senate; and,

WHEREAS, 155 other countries have ratified CEDAW; and,

WHEREAS, a joint hearing of the Commission on the Status of Women and the Human Rights Commission is being held October 30, 1997 to further discuss CEDAW; and,

WHEREAS, local adherence to the principles of CEDAW would promote equal access to health care, employment, education and other fundamental rights; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Health Commission joins other commissions and City departments in supporting the ratification of the principles contained in the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women and urges the City and County of San Francisco to implement this convention at the local level, where applicable, and to support ratification efforts at the State and Federal levels.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Health Commission at its meeting of Tuesday, October 21, 1997.