Gender development laws, targets, and policies have helped the world recognise the barriers posed by inequality, but these ‘paper victories’ won’t be enough to change lives of all women and girls, the Marshall Islands has told this year’s global meeting on the status of women.
In his high-level plenary address at the UN, Senator Jess Gasper Jr says what’s needed is “a profound shift in social attitudes and political will to truly accept and promote women as equal partners.”
He was equally frank on the situation of gender-based violence in his country.
“Despite important legal reforms, gender-based violence remains unacceptably high in the Marshall Islands. One in two women experiences partner violence, and our region has the lowest rate of women in elected government globally,” he said.
The Marshall Islands has implemented education campaigns, police training, and crisis support services to bring about change. Senator Gasper Jr. noted these steps “are crucial, but we must move faster to ensure the full recognition and realisation of women’s rights.”
As Minister of Culture & Internal Affairs, Jess Gasper Jr. comes to the gender space with action as a priority. His boss, President Hilda Heine, is one of only two women leaders amongst more than 20 Pacific nations and territories scattered across what Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have dubbed the Blue Continent. From this sea of islands-states, the Marshalls have stood out for their stance on climate change, oceanic fisheries, nuclear legacy, and most recently, as hosts of the latest Conference of Pacific women, Ministers for Women, and the Forum Women’s Leaders Meeting. While those meetings helped progress gender equality commitments in the Pacific, with a focus on health, gender-based violence, and climate justice, RMI is preparing for another milestone.
In June, the nation will mark the launch of the Micronesia Gender Equality Framework, which will set priorities to accelerate action in our sub-region and establish the resources and governance structures needed to monitor progress.
At national level, the Marshall Islands will finalise an Implementation Strategy for the Gender Equality Act, a comprehensive legislation on gender equality that is one
of its kind in the Pacific while its new Early Childhood Development Framework has also made significant progress supporting vulnerable communities, including expectant mothers and young children.“We are expanding this framework to achieve universal coverage, addressing crisis levels of malnutrition and stunting,” said the Minister, who also welcomed the recent integration of climate and resilience into the framework.
“As an atoll nation facing the existential threat of climate change, we recognise that gender is a necessary pillar of our climate and security policies – our matrilineal customs provide a unique foundation to meet these contemporary challenges,” he said.
The Minister encouraged a stronger presence for UN Women in the Pacific, especially in support of their multi-country office in Micronesia, noting Small Island Developing States, “require tailored strategies that reflect our unique challenges and strengths.”
RMI and other Pacific nations at the CSW69 who support the Beijing Platform for Action and the Revised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration, are also party to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
