Page 29 - IB March 2025

International Women’s Day

MISOGYNY ON THE RISE

BUT WOMEN FIGHT BACK

The opening session of the Commission of the Status of to the economic participation and education pillars of the
Women (CSW) meeting in New York this month heard that Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
“misogyny is on the rise.” She emphasised the promotion of the Palauan language and
Sima Bahous, the Executive Director of UN Women, said parenting values to foster inclusive family structures. “We
women and girls are bearing the brunt of multiple crises and are enabling both parents—fathers and mothers—to actively
conflicts around the world. participate in shaping our children’s futures,” she stated,
It was a message echoed by the UN Secretary-General reframing traditional gender values within the family unit.
António Guterres who said the “poison of patriarchy” is The Pacific also has low levels of political representation by
apparent, while women’s rights are currently “under siege”. women when compared to global norms.
“The masters of misogyny are gaining strength,” he added, But Kiribati’s Women, Youth and Social Welfare Minister,
pointing to the “bile” hurled at women online and leaders Ruth Cross Kwansing, noted her own entry into politics and
who “are happy to throw equality to the wolves”. appointment “as evidence and intent of our progress as a
Two weeks after those comments, the CSW adopted nation.”
a declaration urging full implementation of the Beijing Kwansing reported how behavioural change initiatives are
Declaration and Platform for Action to achieve gender fostering positive shifts, enhancing a national response to
equality and the empowerment of women and girls. violence against women, and said that an operating protocols
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was agreed system called SafeNet provides survivors with a dedicated and
30 years ago and outlines 12 critical areas for improvement meaningful support system.
in the status of women: poverty alleviation, education and “Our determination is clear in the government manifesto,
training, health, elimination of violence against women, an and we are actively addressing emerging threats like
end to armed conflict, economic development, more power technology-facilitated violence, prioritising prevention,
and decision-making, institutional mechanisms, human rights, economic empowerment, and legal protection for women and
the media, the environment, and the girl child. girls,” she told the CSW69 plenary session.
The CSW called on the United Nations system to continue In New York, Nauru made a clarion call for climate action
to support implementation of the Declaration and Platform and resourcing to recognise the women on the frontline of the
“through systematic gender mainstreaming, multi-stakeholder global crisis.
partnerships, the mobilisation of resources to deliver Ambassador Lara Daniel, Permanent Representative of the
results and the monitoring and assessment of progress with Republic of Nauru to the United Nations, spoke of climate
disaggregated data.” change as “the single greatest threat to our security and
However, there were reservations. The United States said livelihoods, undermining stability and resilience across our
several aspects of the texts “make it impossible” to support Blue Pacific.”
the Declaration, including lapses in using clear language that Nauru has introduced a new Gender-Responsive Climate
recognises that “women are biologically female, and men are Change Policy to integrate gender equality in climate action,
biologically male”. disaster risk management, and pandemic response.
“We also cannot accept references to a purported right to “Rising sea levels, extreme weather, and environmental
development,” the US representative said, while he rejected degradation create severe security implications, particularly
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. for women and girls. Women, central to community
resilience, must be empowered with the necessary resources
Pacific voices at CSW to drive sustainable solutions.”
Pacific government and civil society representatives in New Ambassador Daniel called for enhanced international
York took a range of issues to the meeting and side events, cooperation “to ensure gender-responsive climate policies are
from climate justice to violence. prioritised and adequately funded.”
Pacific Island nations consistently record some of the And Samoa’s CEO for Women, Community, and Social
highest levels of violence against women and girls in the Development, Loau Donina Va’a, urged delegates to CSW to
world. CLAP. Speaking at a Commonwealth Secretariat-hosted event
In New York, Laisa Bulatale of the Fiji Women’s Rights in New York, she said: “Collaboration must drive solutions.
Movement, noted: “Violence against women and girls is Leadership must make gender equality an expectation. Action
reinforced by community acceptance, deep-rooted gender must turn commitments into impact. And progress must be
stereotypes, harmful social norms and practices, and impunity measured by results. CLAP—Collaboration, Leadership, Action,
for perpetrators. and Progress—to champion gender equality!”
“Violence against women and girls is never acceptable,
never excusable and never tolerable,” she added. Reporting by Lisa Williams-Lahari
Palau’s Director for Domestic Affairs, Eunice Akiwo, spoke

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