HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 11658
City of Palo Alto (ID # 11658)
Policy and Services Committee Staff Report
Report Type: Action Items Meeting Date: 10/13/2020
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: CEDAW and Diversity/Inclusion
Title: Discussion Regarding the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as a Component of Citywide
Diversity and Inclusion
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Policy and Services Committee discuss CEDAW, the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, as it relates to recent City Council
conversations about diversity and inclusion.
Discussion
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was adopted
by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. Including a preamble and 30 articles, it
defines what constitutes discrimination against women and proposes an agenda for national
action to end the discrimination.
In 2002, Council passed Resolution #8217, in support of CEDAW (CMR: 405:02). On December
12, 2016, the Council passed Resolution #9653, “Reaffirming Palo Alto’s Commitment to a
Diverse, Supportive, Inclusive and Protective Community.” As part of the approval motion,
Council moved to refer the subject matter to the Human Relations Commission (HRC), for
“recommendation of implementation measures and additional elements that should be
considered by the Council in the future” (Council Action Minutes 12/12/16).
In 2018 (February 8, 2018), the HRC ad hoc committee on CEDAW presented a report with a
“goal…to identify and study gender equality issues, as they affect and apply to Palo Alto.”
Meeting minutes reflect the discussion, with the expectation that this would move to City
Council for consideration and action. Council received this information at their October 1, 2018
meeting (CMR: #9646).
As part of recent Council ad hoc discussions regarding race, equity, diversity, and inclusion,
plans to work on these topics have emerged and are under consideration by Council. The
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Citywide Diversity & Inclusion ad hoc proposes data collection and analysis, community
programs and engagement, training, and other actions. Areas of data collection and other City
workforce analysis include bias, gender, pay equity, hiring practices, training, and related
activities.
Stakeholder Engagement
The Mayor and City Council have engaged on various ad hoc committees to identify actions and
recommend plans on the topics of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the summer
and fall of 2020. These efforts have incorporated community outreach, programs, and data
gathering on the topic of race, racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.
As noted, prior HRC Committee work has included studies of gender and related discrimination
in Palo Alto.
Environmental Review
This is not a project as defined in CEQA and no environmental review is required.