Empowering Pacific women

When the Pacific Islands Forum discusses gender in Tonga, it will come prepared.

That’s thanks to groundwork laid at July’s 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and 8th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women, a gathering which marked a significant moment in the ongoing journey toward greater gender equality in the region.

The event addressed several key focus areas for women, setting the agenda for PIF to follow.

Gender equality and leadership

The conference reaffirmed a strong commitment to increasing the representation of women and marginalised gender communities in leadership roles.

This aligns with the “Pacific Way“ (an approach I developed alongside Dr Elisabeth Jackson) which advocates for using Pacific culture and traditions to help support gender equality and women’s leadership.

The Pacific Way emphasises that effective gender equality initiatives must be rooted in the cultural and social realities of the region. Gender equality and violence prevention efforts that don’t align with local cultural and social understandings can be perceived as threatening and can be met with resistance.

Gender equality programming in the Pacific includes not just women and girls but also men, boys and entire families, reflecting the values of communalism and cooperation.

The Family Farm teams project is an example of a gender equality initiative that takes into account the cultural and relational dynamics by including families in challenging norms in agriculture in the Pacific.

Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence remains a critical issue in the Pacific and the conference focused on ramping up action against it.

Data from 2018 shows that, among women aged 15-49 who have ever been partnered, Oceania has the highest rates of intimate partner violence at around 49 percent, well above the global average of 35 percent.

Outcomes from the conference include developing comprehensive national action plans to address gender-based violence, improving legal frameworks and offering better support services for survivors, as well as including men and boys in solutions to address violence.

In Pacific countries with national action plans, efforts focus on increasing public awareness and prevention of attitudes and behaviours related to gender-based violence and upskilling police and judicial personnel to ensure cases are handled with care. This helps reduce the risk of re-traumatising survivors.

Alongside that, the conference outlined ways laws and legal frameworks could be strengthened to protect women, girls and marginalised groups from gender-based violence. Suggestions offered include creating specialised police and judicial units.

These plans also aim to establish or expand support services, such as emergency shelters and crisis centres that offer psychological counselling and legal assistance.

Economic empowerment

Economic empowerment was another key topic discussed, with strategies designed to support women entrepreneurs and address economic disparities.

Emphasising culturally relevant economic development programs that align with traditional knowledge, practices and local economic systems can be a way of dealing with economic empowerment in the region.

For example, the international organisation Pacific R2R is working with women in rural Fiji to use their traditional salt-making practices as an opportunity to generate income.

Traditional knowledge systems are crucial for preserving cultural identity and Indigenous communities with strong connections to their land and cultural practices tend to be more cohesive and socially resilient in the face of climate change.

Health and education

In the Pacific, there remain many barriers for women trying to access reproductive and mental health services, from stigma, traditional beliefs that conflict with modern medical practices, a shortage of trained professionals and challenges related to finance, geography and infrastructure.

To ensure equitable education, efforts could include training teachers in gender equality, disability and social inclusion, enforcing policies for equal access, investing in infrastructure for remote areas and implementing programs to boost education opportunities for girls and women facing additional barriers.

In addressing gender inequality there is a need to focus on solutions that are culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate.

For instance, incorporating traditional health practices and community-based educational methods can make health and education programs more effective.

In Kiribati, traditional healers and formal health workers work together to care for female patients.

In Fiji and Papua New Guinea, storytelling and oral traditions are used to promote health practices, hygiene and traditional remedies.

In Tonga, young people learn traditional healing practices and knowledge about herbal medicine through apprenticeships with experienced healers.

By respecting and integrating local knowledge, the region can improve the accessibility and impact of these critical services.

Environmental action

Pacific women and gender marginalised groups are disproportionately affected by climate change, facing health risks, disrupted livelihoods and more violence in their communities, all while being excluded from positions of influence.

Faith-based organisations provide crucial support but gaps in government and donor country responses highlight the need for gender sensitive and inclusive approaches to effectively address these issues.

By involving people in vulnerable positions in environmental planning and response, the region can address their unique vulnerabilities and leverage their experience, knowledge and practices.

Regional collaboration

Strengthening cooperation between Pacific governments, civil society organisations, international partners and local communities can facilitate the sharing of best practices and the implementation of gender equality initiatives.

The Pacific region is characterised by its rich cultural diversity. Collaborative approaches allow for the development of regionally tailored solutions that honour local traditions and practices.

This collaborative approach supports the development of regionally tailored solutions that address common challenges, while respecting local values. Increasing regional collaborations and networks are creating opportunities for women to tackle challenges across various sectors including fisheries, agriculture, leadership and business.

The outcomes of these regional gender meetings reflect a comprehensive and culturally sensitive approach to advancing gender equality in the Pacific.

By embedding Pacific values — respect for local traditions, culturally grounded solutions, and inclusive decision-making — into the design and implementation, regional gender equality initiatives offer a path toward a more equitable and resilient future.

Addressing gender disparities through culturally relevant strategies ensures that the needs of women and marginalised gender communities are met effectively, fostering a more just and sustainable region for all.

Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.