Page 26 - IB April 2025

Gender Gender

CHANGING TIMES

STATES SHOWCASE EQUALITY INITIATIVES

By Ema Ganivatu restoration. Tuvalu has also taken bold legal steps
internationally, seeking advisory opinions from both the
For the first time in Pacific history, Fiji hosted the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination for the Law of the Sea, efforts led by women legal leaders
Against Women (CEDAW), marking a major milestone for the within the government.
region.
The event brought together leaders, policymakers, and Justice and digital access
advocates committed to promoting gender equality and A member of Tuvalu’s delegation shared updates on
protecting the rights of women and girls across the Pacific. improving women’s access to justice, particularly in remote
Throughout the week, the event also featured talanoa islands.
sessions: open, inclusive dialogues that focused on gender “We are strengthening the justice system to ensure
equality, giving space for Pacific voices to share lived outreach reaches outer islands at least twice a year,” the
experiences, cultural insights, and local solutions. delegate explained. “Women in remote areas now access legal
Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, and Fiji each presented their aid remotely through local police, court registries, or during
national reports to the CEDAW Committee. legal outreach visits.”
Leading the Tuvaluan delegation, Prime Minister Feleti Teo Internet connectivity via Starlink and new ICT infrastructure
highlighted their country’s determination to uphold CEDAW is also expanding opportunities for women in rural areas
commitments, while confronting deep-rooted challenges to access digital services, participate in consultations, and
shaped by cultural traditions, geographic isolation, and the engage in advocacy work.
existential threat of climate change. On the issue of climate-induced migration, Tuvalu’s
“Tuvalu remains committed to implementing CEDAW, and delegation clarified that relocation is not seen as a primary
we have made meaningful progress,” Prime Minister Teo said. solution.
“But we also acknowledge the existence of structural and “Our people do not want to leave their God-given
societal challenges that slow our efforts.” homeland,” said a senior delegate. “We want to protect our
Since its last report to the Committee, Tuvalu has made islands and preserve our culture, migration, if necessary, must
significant legislative and policy strides. These include raising be done with dignity and choice.”
the legal age of marriage to 18, criminalising domestic As Tuvalu continues to confront the intersecting challenges
violence through the 2014 Family Protection and Domestic of climate vulnerability and gender inequality, its message to
Violence Act, and ensuring workplace protections under the the global community was clear: stronger partnerships and
2017 Labour Act. international support are essential.
A landmark 2023 constitutional review now explicitly “Achieving gender equality and protecting women’s rights
prohibits discrimination based on sex. Women’s cannot rest solely on government shoulders,” Teo concluded.
representation in senior government roles has grown to 37%, “It requires collective efforts, regional collaboration, and a
and 53% of magistrates are now female. deep respect for the voices of our women and communities.”
“My delegation to this dialogue is dominated by women,
not because I wanted more women, but because they deserve Solomon Islands highlights groundbreaking progress on
to be here in their own right as holders of key executive gender equality
positions,” Teo said. “For the first time, we developed our own CEDAW report
Despite progress, the Prime Minister highlighted persistent with very minimal external technical support,” said Cedric
gender-based violence, with 44% of Tuvaluan women reporting Alependava, Head of the Solomon Islands Delegation and
intimate partner abuse. Only one in three survivors seek help, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry for Women. He called it
and there are currently no women in Parliament. Cultural a huge milestone, made possible by a small but determined
resistance to temporary special measures aimed at increasing group of women in government, supported by young female
women’s political participation remains high. volunteers across the country.
Tuvalu’s vulnerability to climate change was also described With 700,000 people living across more than 900 islands,
as a critical barrier to achieving gender equality. “Climate Solomon Islands faces big challenges from tough geography
change is not just an environmental issue, it is a human rights to deeply rooted cultural traditions. But through literacy
issue in Tuvalu,” said Teo. “It threatens the rights to food, reviews, policy planning, community workshops, and lots of
water, health, and economic security, especially for women,” listening, the country is creating a gender equality plan that
he said. reflects local voices while also meeting global standards.
Women across Tuvalu are leading grassroots climate The CEDAW process, the team said, has become more
resilience efforts, from mangrove planting to coral than just a report, it’s become a tool to build confidence,

26 Islands Business, April 2025