HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

32

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Supporting international WHITE ribbon campaigns to end men's violence against women and encouraging the establishment of a white ribbon campaign organization in hawaii.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, at least two former United States Surgeon Generals, Antonia Novella and General C. Everett Koop, have declared domestic violence to be a problem of epidemic proportions nationwide; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse organization, a woman is abused every nine seconds, three to ten million children witness domestic violence every year, and one in five high school students experience physical or sexual violence, or both, by a dating partner; and

 

     WHEREAS, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence statistics indicate that there were 8,013 reported cases of domestic violence in Hawaii in 1999; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Police Department estimates that up to one-third to one-half of police officers' work time is spent responding to "domestic" calls; and

 

     WHEREAS, in addition to the physical and psychological effects of domestic violence on the victim and the victim's family, job-related consequences, including absenteeism, medical costs, employee turnover, and lost productivity, cost the American economy between $8,000,000,000 and $10,000,000,000; and

 

     WHEREAS, the White Ribbon Campaign was established in Canada in 1991 by men who felt a responsibility to speak out against men's violence against women; the campaign actively works to end men's violence in all forms against women and to create a future without violence against women; and

 

     WHEREAS, although the focus of the original White Ribbon Campaign was to educate men and boys on issues relating to ending men's violence against women, White Ribbon Campaign organizations around the world now support ending all forms of violence, including violence against children, in relationships, and in war by:

 

     (1)  Organizing people to speak out and consider their personal beliefs, language, and actions;

 

     (2)  Educating young people, especially young men and boys, on the issues through educational resources;

 

     (3)  Raising public awareness on the issue of violence against women and other forms of violence;

 

     (4)  Working in partnership with women's organizations, the private sector, media, and other partners to create a future with no violence against women; and

 

     (5)  Supporting White Ribbon Campaigns around the globe; and

 

     WHEREAS, originally established by concerned men in Canada, White Ribbon Campaigns currently are led by both men and women in more than fifty-five countries; and

 

     WHEREAS, wearing a white ribbon in support of the White Ribbon Campaign is a personal pledge to never commit, condone, nor remain silent about violence against women and girls and to work to end all forms of violence; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature expresses support for the activities of White Ribbon Campaign organizations around the world, in particular for the many men working to end men's violence against women; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages residents of Hawaii, especially men and boys, to participate in local activities that support the goals of the White Ribbon Campaign; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages interested Hawaii residents, especially men and boys, and local organizations to work together to establish a local organization of men working to end men's violence against women, a White Ribbon Campaign of Hawaii, and to work cooperatively and collaboratively to create a future in Hawaii where there is no violence against women; the White Ribbon Campaign of Hawaii is encouraged to enable and support active participation of women to achieve campaign goals, including ending all forms of violence; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Human Services, the Director of Health, and the Executive Director of the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, who, in turn, is requested to transmit copies to its members and other relevant organizations.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

White Ribbon Campaign; Violence