Solomon Islands voices need for more data policies on gender equality ahead of Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review

By Fredrick Kusu in Bangkok, Thailand

Solomon Islands has voiced the need for more data on gender equality ahead of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review scheduled to take place from the 19 to 21 November in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ahead of the conference, Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and government representatives from Asia and the Pacific gathered to discuss issues, commitment and the way forward to achieving the commitments and declarations made in the Beijing Declaration.

Among other issues discussed raised by Solomon Islands at a meeting held on Saturday is the need to have relevant data that would assist in achieving the goals made under the declaration.

These data are important in guiding policy makers and that would trigger swift action from governments in promoting and achieving gender equality.

Solomon Islands Country Lead for Dignity Pasifik Leote Filoa said that having the necessary data could assist Solomon Islands including Asia and the Pacific in achieving the commitments made under the declaration.

“In Solomon Islands, having the relevant data to support the promotion of gender equality is one of the challenges.”

“Having the relevant data would help the government track its progress on achieving its priority areas.”

“The need to support data collection applies to all Asia and Pacific governments.”

Ms Filoa explained that developing proper data policies will help Asian and Pacific countries in their efforts in implementing their commitments under the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 is bringing together Asia and Pacific CSOs and government representatives to assess what they have a achieved on their commitments to gender equality made under the Beijing declaration in Beijing 30 years ago.

The review will also pave the way forward to successfully fulfil the commitments under the declaration.

ENDS///

This story was produced with the support from the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office.