Vaea highlights Pacific Women’s progress in business leadership and education at Beijing +30 Review conference

By Fredrick Kusu in Bangkok, Thailand

Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Vaea told the Ministerial Conference on the Beijing +30 Review in Bangkok on Tuesday that Pacific countries have made significant progress on women participation in business leadership and in education.

Delivering the Pacific Islands Forum statement, Vaea said the region has made a significant progress in addressing gender equality and social inclusion in its efforts to fully implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in achieving gender equality.

Among these achievements are the inclusion of women participation in business leadership and education.

“It is reported that Pacific women’s participation in business leadership has significantly increased and continues to exceed global averages.”

“There are various initiatives both regional and within countries that promote the full and equal participation of women and girls in leadership at all levels and across all sectors.”

There is also a significant progress reported in the participation of women and girls in education, however, there is still a need to prioritize early childhood education development and support more women and girls at the tertiary level.

Meanwhile the Pacific continues to strengthen policies to address poverty and promote women’s economic empowerment by extending parental leave allowances and implementing social protection policies that are gender responsive and socially inclusive.

Vaea stressed that gender-based violence and climate change remains a challenge in the collective efforts to address gender equality in the region.

He said sexual and gender-based violence remains a concern despite the legal frame works that are in place.

“Prevention and access to services recognizing emerging concerns such as technology-facilitated gender-based violence is a must when addressing gender-based violence.”

Climate change also remains a single threat to the livelihood security and wellbeing of the Pacific.

“Women and girls in rural, remote and maritime areas are susceptible to extreme climate environmental events because they heavily depend on natural resources for their livelihood.

Speaking during a panel discussion, Pacific Community Principal Strategic Lead Mereseini Rakuita recognized the political will of governments in the Pacific in advancing gender equality.

“I recognize the efforts of our national governments in the Pacific in the political will that has been made in putting policies together that recognize the importance of gender equality.”

Vaea assured the conference that PIF leaders are committed to progress gender equality through the Revitalized Pacific Leaders and Gender Equality Declaration and the Pacific Platform for Action on Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights.

These commitments are also re-enforced for the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent which captures the collective vision and aspirations.

ENDS///

This story was produced with the support of the UN Women Fiji Multi-country office.