Palau’s Director for Domestic Affairs, Eunice Akiwo, has underscored the importance of supporting parents as a key step in adopting a gender-focused approach to family resourcing.
At the Pacific welcome reception at the 69th global Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meeting in New York, Akiwa shared how Palau is introducing new “Maternity Parental Leave” provisions designed to create a sustainable support system for families, particularly the most vulnerable.
These measures aim to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all.
Akiwo highlighted Palau’s efforts to prioritise Early Childhood Development, beginning “in the womb” and continuing through the toddler years, before formal schooling.
She emphasised the promotion of the Palauan language and parenting values to foster inclusive family structures. “We are enabling both parents—fathers and mothers—to actively participate in shaping our children’s futures,” she stated, reframing traditional gender values within the family unit.
In her formal statement to the CSW, Akiwo noted Palau’s transition to a value-added tax system post-COVID-19 recovery, which has started yielding financial returns.
She explained the community support behind subsidies for vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, childcare support for Indigenous population growth, and improving access to virtual education and telehealth services for remote communities and the private sector.
Akiwo also spotlighted the Division of Gender’s partnership with Pacific Women Lead, which marked International Women’s Day 2025 by convening over 70 cultural, community, and political women leaders—including eight members of Palau’s National Congress.
The IWD summit helped to drive awareness on the national challenges Palau shares with the Pacific, including mental health stigmatization and the shortage of mental health professionals to meet growing demand.
Akiwo reaffirmed Palau’s commitment to combating gender-based violence (GBV) by providing access to support and counseling to promote “positive behavioural change within our societies.”
She also stressed the importance of Palau’s matrilineal heritage in shaping gender policies and interventions.
Acknowledging the technical assistance of the Pacific Women Lead program and the SPC in producing Beijing+30 review reports, Akiwo stated that national survey data and the Palau review report had informed the design of Palau’s IWD 2025 events and continues to guide the government’s gender work plan. On a broader scale, Palau is contributing to the development of a Micronesian Sub-Regional Gender Framework to align national and regional gender priorities.
