Small Island Developing States spotlight urgent gender equality priorities at the CSW

[Press release]

For immediate release

New York, USA — The UN Women Multi-Country Offices (MCOs) for the Caribbean and the Pacific jointly organised the side event “Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and Gender Equality—Charting the course toward Resilient Prosperity for All using a gender lens” at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). The side event took place at the UN Headquarters Conference Room D on Tuesday, 12 March 2024.

The event focused on SIDS discussions surrounding the vital importance of recognising the transformative potential of gender equality, social inclusion and women's empowerment in addressing the essential challenges for securing a resilient and prosperous future.

As part of the event, there was a high-level Ministerial panel on "Using a Gender Perspective in Strengthening the Course Charted Toward Resilient Prosperity in SIDS'' moderated by Maluseu Doris Tulifau, founder of Brown Girl Woke, a youth-led feminist non-profit. The panel included members of the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Sint Maarten and the Kingdom of Tonga.

Pacific SIDS were represented by the head of delegation for the Kingdom Of Tonga, Honourable Lord Vaea Minister of Internal Affairs and Chair of the Tonga National Committee on Gender and Development, a multi-sectoral committee consisting of heads of ministries and departments as well as non-governmental organizations, that coordinates and monitors the implementation of the Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality (WEGET) Policy 2019-2025, whose government is the Chair of the Pacific Island Forum 2024. Tonga also hosted the Pacific preparatory meeting for the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in August 2023.

During his statement, Hon. Lord Vaea highlighted the commitments made by the Pacific region to advance gender equality. He emphasised the significance of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Strategy and the revitalised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration. In 2023, Pacific leaders reinvigorated their commitment to the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration a decade after its adoption.

Hon. Vaea also brought attention to key priority issues such as improving women's economic empowerment as a catalyst for gender equality. He emphasised the importance of acknowledging the links between women’s poverty and the rates of gender-based violence.

“We call on all partners, including the UN system, to support the Pacific in implementing the 2050 Strategy and revitalised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration to ensure that any investments and partnerships will support national and regional initiatives and guarantee the lifelong learning, health, security, and well-being of all Pacific peoples in all their diversity,” he said.

In the regional reflections segment of the side-event, the Social Inclusion Adviser at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Ms. Melinia Nawadra stated that Pacific Forum Leaders are committed to the long-term well-being and prosperity of its people through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent which sets the pathway over the next three decades to achieving their vision for a resilient Pacific Region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity that ensures all Pacific peoples can lead-free, healthy and productive lives.

Ms. Nawadra emphasised that the revitalised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration is anchored in the 2050 Strategy and guides all actions to ensure inclusivity, gender equality and equity through targeted approaches and mainstreaming.  In reflecting on innovative financing mechanisms, Ms. Nawadra highlighted the establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility - the first Pacific-led, member-owned regional resilience financing facility which aims to help Pacific people exposed to climate change and disaster risks, particularly women and girls, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. For this segment, Ms. Nawadra was joined by Alison Drayton, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.

Closing remarks for the event were delivered by the Prime Minister of Aruba, Her Excellency Ms. Evelyn Wever-Croes, the first woman to hold this office. The event provided a platform to discuss critical considerations or areas to strengthen gender equality for inclusion within the forthcoming 10-year action plan, which will be developed at SIDS4 in Antigua and Barbuda in May.