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Palo Alto council unanimously adopts ordinance to implement CEDAW principles
Summary
The Palo Alto City Council voted unanimously March 23 to adopt an ordinance that incorporates the foundational principles of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women into local policy, and referred implementation details to the Human Relations Commission.
Palo Alto — The City Council on March 23 unanimously adopted an ordinance to amend Chapter 9.73 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to implement local policies based on the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Mayor Vicki Vinkor urged the council to approve the measure, calling it a “foundational statement of principles that we aspire to” and saying the ordinance will help the city move toward greater equity. Deputy City Manager Cotton Gaines told the council staff focused the draft on items within the city’s jurisdiction and will fold the work into the city’s equity action plan.
The ordinance was the council’s sole action item for the evening. After brief staff remarks and four public commenters who supported the ordinance but urged a stronger, longer document, Mayor Vinkor moved to adopt the ordinance and to refer implementation tasks—including recommendations on housing supports for unhoused survivors of gender-based violence and childcare options—to the Human Relations Commission. The motion was seconded and approved in a roll-call vote; the clerk recorded unanimous approval.
Advocates who spoke during public comment welcomed the adoption but said the draft before the council was short and should be expanded. “We support this. We hope you will vote for it,” said Roberta Alquist, identifying herself as part of a coalition that has worked on CEDAW issues for nearly nine years. “We find it very thin… Ours is a paltry three pages.” Cheryl S., another longtime advocate, said she will continue to monitor implementation at Human Relations Commission meetings.
Council members who spoke praised the ordinance as a step forward and emphasized that it should not remain symbolic. Council member Liu called for the Human Relations Commission to develop concrete policies and work plans so the ordinance “is not just merely a symbolic gesture, but a way to actually achieve those intended results of CEDAW.”
City staff and the city attorney’s office will now work with the Human Relations Commission to produce implementation recommendations and more detailed policies. According to the mayor’s motion, the referral should include guidance on housing options for unhoused people, supports for survivors of gender-based violence, and childcare actions; the council scheduled further follow-up and expects the HRC to report back with specific recommendations.
The council recessed after the vote for a short reception and proceeded with interviews for various boards and commissions. The council will consider commission appointments at a future meeting scheduled for April 13.
