Over two days of rich dialogue and exchange from 7 – 8
April, Pacific governments, civil society, youth, and
community leaders came together in a series of thematic
sessions, including five talanoa sessions and a
consultation on draft General Recommendation No. 41 on
gender stereotypes, as part of the Pacific Technical
Cooperation Session of the Committee on the Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW Committee).
From strengthening women’s
political leadership to breaking gender stereotypes and
advancing the rights of children, youth, and ensuring
inclusion of persons with disabilities, each session
spotlighted the lived realities of Pacific peoples, and the
bold actions needed to drive gender equality
forward.
“Creating pathways for women into
leadership positions takes a whole system approach—it
takes a whole-of-nation approach,” said Mereseini Rakuita,
SPC’s Principal Strategic Lead – Pacific Women and
Girls. “Every sector of our economies has a role to
play.”
The talanoa on violence against women
and girls reaffirmed the region’s commitment to solidarity
and collective action. “We need to have solidarity—we
can have our differences, but we must stand together,”
said Shamima Ali of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. “We
must support each other, especially when it comes to
combating violence against women and girls,” added Livai
Sovai from the Government of Nauru.
Youth voices rang
clear in the first session, highlighting that CEDAW must be
lived and felt in every village, home, and community. “We
are not waiting for permission to lead—we are already
leading,” said Melissa Bule.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
The Consultation on
General Recommendation No. 41 explored how gender
stereotypes are shaped by cultural and religious norms, and
how they have impacted discrimination against women and
girls. “It is important to acknowledge the rich culture in
the Pacific, and to also recognize the challenges of deeply
entrenched stereotypes that continue to affect women in the
Pacific,” said Heike Alefsen, the Pacific Regional
Representative of OHCHR, as she opened the event.
Hon.
Rose Te Hani Brown from the Cook Islands stressed, “Our
new policies can’t work if traditional, religious, and
government leaders are not on board.” The consultation
triggered conversations about the intersectionality of
gender stereotypes, including in relation to LGBTQIA+.
Participants were encouraged to submit written inputs to
help strengthen the content of draft General Recommendation
No. 41 as it is being finalised.
Women leaders
representing Organisations of Persons with Disabilities
shared firsthand experiences of discrimination and
accessibility issues across the region. “Young women with
disabilities, we are strong, we are resilient, and we can
contribute to building the community and the nation,” said
Ketia Toakarawa, President of the Kiribati Association for
the Deaf.
The session marked a critical step toward
amplifying the voices and leadership of women with
disabilities in the Pacific and advocating for tangible,
rights-based solutions with the voices of persons with
disabilities at the centre.
CEDAW Committee Chair Ms.
Nahla Haidar shared that the thematic sessions were very
useful for the Committee members, as they provided insights
from the people of the Pacific on key issues.
“The
knowledge of the people on these issues—and their
contexts, their constraints, and their expectations from the
Committee—has been invaluable. The talanoa sessions
were a two-way street, as they also gave the Committee an
opportunity to provide information on the Convention to help
participants better understand it. We leave with a deeper
understanding of the links between culture, religion and
human rights—and the critical role of youth and
traditional leaders in moving gender equality
forward.”
The thematic sessions were also
attended by representatives from 15 Pacific Island countries
currently in Suva to engage directly with the CEDAW
Committee. For many, the sessions provided not just a
platform for exchange, but an opportunity for personal and
national reflection.
The thematic sessions concluded
with a call to action: for inclusive leadership, genuine
partnerships, and regionally led, rights-based approaches to
gender equality. The Pacific Technical Cooperation Session
of the CEDAW Committee continues this week with country
exchanges with Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Fiji taking place
from 9 – 11 April, respectively, at the Pacific Islands
Forum Drua Conference room in
Suva.
