Meraia Taufa Vakatale: anti-nuclear activist and feminist trailblazer
Fiji recently lost Dr Meraia Taufa Vakatale, a monumental woman leader who broke many glass ceilings with her numerous firsts. As an educationalist, diplomat and politician, she profoundly impacted the lives of tens of
Pacific aid to enforce climate, gender equality targets
Australia will push to create local employment and boost the domestic economies of its Pacific island neighbours while keeping an eye on climate change and gender equality. The latest international development policy is
Pacific workers in Tasmania, Queensland in limbo as large employer quits PALM scheme
More than 200 Pacific workers have been left in limbo after their employer Linx Employment agreed to end its participation in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme amid worker treatment investigations. The
Tasmanian fruit pickers rescued from Samoa, Vanuatu and PNG alleged “modern slavery”
Tasmanian fruit pickers have been rescued from a company that has been treating them as ‘modern slaves’, unions say. The Australian federal government has revoked the business license of Linx Employment, leading to
Opinion: We have run out of time
Why Pacific feminists and climate justice activists are boycotting COP28 “COP28 is this year so heavily compromised that a grassroots-led group like DIVA for Equality would be betraying the constituency by
Legal protection essential for people displaced by climate change: UN expert
An independent UN-appointed climate expert on Tuesday called for full legal protection to be given to those displaced by the impacts of climate change, to guarantee their human rights. “The effects of climate change
Pay our nurses, says Fiji Women’s Rights Movement
The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) has called on Fiji’s Government to place more emphasis on the appropriate allowances and pay for nurses and midwives. For several years, nurses and midwives in Fiji
Not so innocent bystanders
Policymakers in the Pacific Islands have been urged to consider adopting laws requiring bystanders to report online violence against women and girls. The suggestion comes from an Online Bystander Report by the
Pacific feminists: Doing work that matters
More than 150 feminists, women’s rights defenders and human rights activists from 20 countries in the Pacific region are sharing, learning and strategising at the 3rd Pacific Feminist Forum (PFF) this week. The
Grants to drive change
Less than one per cent of direct funding reaches women rights organisations in the Pacific and this is just one of the reasons why a stand-alone Pacific Feminist Fund has been established to address the chronic
UN resolution a victory for Pacific youth
The United Nations’ adoption of a resolution calling for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligations of States on climate change, is a victory for the Pacific, and for a group
UNAIDS: Cook Islands’ original path toward equality
On 14 April, members of the Cook Islands rainbow community assembled at parliament with colourful flags and cautious optimism. It turned out to be the day they’d been working toward for the last twelve years.
We cannot be complacent: Dr Manoni
“Addressing and preventing violence in all its forms against any individual – men, women, girls, boys, and communities is critical for development,” says Pacific Islands Forum, Deputy Secretary General, Dr Filimon
We are truly one nation, one people: Pride Cook Islands
Pride Cook Islands is elated to see the decade long active push for decriminalisation finally take place in Cook Islands Parliament. The Crimes (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill 2023 was passed in Parliament on
Cook Islands Parliament decriminalises homosexuality
Cook Islands Parliament has repealed provisions in its Crimes Act that criminalised homosexuality. The Crimes (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill 2023 which, among other things, aimed to decriminalise homosexuality was
Tougher anti-human trafficking bill passed in Palau
Palau’s House of Delegates passed on its third and final reading a Senate bill 11-73 to expand, update and strengthen the anti-human smuggling and human trafficking act. The bill amends the current law ‘to bring
If we value human rights and the rule of law, then we must fight for climate justice
Human life is sacred and every individual deserves an equal chance in life. We have a common desire, we all want to lead a free, fulfilling existence, with dignity, where our basic needs are met, with opportunities to
Establishment of Cook Islands Human Rights Institute gains momentum
Cook Islands Ombudsman Niki Rattle has returned from a conference in Fiji with fresh ideas as the office looks to establish a Human Rights Institute for the Cook Islands. The Pacific Regional Forum on National Human
Alleged prisons brutality condemned
Two of Fiji’s government ministers have condemned the alleged assault of a man at the Suva Remand Centre, who was hospitalised with severe injuries. Speaking at the Blackrock Camp, Home Affairs Minister, Pio
Cook Islands new Ombudsman to form human rights institute
Cook Islands new Ombudsman will head to Fiji to continue with efforts in forming a Human Rights Institute. Ombudsman Niki Rattle said the policy document to support the legislative amendments of the Ombudsman Bill to
West Papua: Army major faces life imprisonment
The Indonesian military says a tribunal has sentenced an army major to life in prison for his involvement in the murder of four Papuan civilians. Their mutilated bodies were found in the restive region in August. Benar
PNG MP condemns arrest of West Papua governor
Papua New Guinea’s Vanimo-Green River MP Belden Namah has condemned the manner in which West Papua Governor Lucas Enembe was arrested and detained by the Indonesian government. Namah, whose electorate borders the
Thirty years of the Vanuatu Women’s Centre: Her Story
On 30 August 1992, three ni-Vanuatu women were on a plane back home to Port Vila, after attending a workshop in Suva with grassroots women from across the Pacific region. Three days later, the Vanuatu Women’s Centre
