STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1138

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 32

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 32 entitled:

"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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to support international White Ribbon Campaigns to end men's violence against women and to encourage the establishment of a White Ribbon Campaign organization in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and two individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website. 

     Your Committee finds that violence against women is epidemic in our society.  Your Committee further finds that domestic violence will never be eradicated by placing the responsibility for avoiding violence on its victims alone.  Rather, the responsibility for ending domestic violence should be placed on the perpetrators and potential perpetrators of violence.  To this end, your Committee finds that it is essential to educate men and boys about violence against women and to encourage men and boys to make a personal commitment to never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women and girls.  Your Committee finds that the White Ribbon Campaign is one way of making men and boys aware of their responsibilities to help end systemic violence against women and girls. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purpose of clarity and accuracy. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 32, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 32, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair