Gaps Between Gender Policy & Community Experiences in the South Pacific

By Madeline Storey

Women of the South Pacific Islands are among most vulnerable groups in the world to the effects of gender inequality. Women across the Pacific face serious risk from violence, lack of economic opportunities, under-representation in leadership and limited access to healthcare and education^[1].

In August of 2012, Pacific Island Leaders met in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, for the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum Meeting^[2]. Specifically, the Leaders endorsed the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration (PLGED), annex 1 of the 43rd Communique, which included promises to ending violence against women, ensure reproductive health planning, encourage gender parity in schools and ensure targeted support for women entrepreneurs.

However, one only needs to be a woman in the South Pacific to know that such declarations and promises have yet to reach them or are ineffective within existing community structures.

An Issue of Access

A lack of access to economic opportunities, health care and education may stem from the lack of female representation in government at the local and national level. It is a continuing rhetoric in many South Pacific communities that a women’s place is in the home and not in the public domain^[3], which has led to an appalling lack of female representation in Parliaments across the South Pacific.

For example, in 2016^[4] women in Australia held 31.8% of the nation’s seats in Parliament. This seems quite low, but not as poor as the female representation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Pacific. For example, women in the Cook Islands (Polynesia) held 17% of the nation’s seats in Parliament, while women in the Federated States of Micronesia and Vanuatu (Melanesia) held no seats.

One reason why women in SIDS have such low representation in government is due to existing social and cultural structures. Vanuatu, for example, has prevailing social and cultural perceptions of male-lead leadership^[5], which has led to no women in parliament despite an increase in the number of women participating as candidates and publically questioning results. It has also resulted in very few male advocates for gender policy.

‘I was raised in an environment [in Malekula] where the man has power, but I always noticed  that women worked harder than men. Usually in decision making, the women just hang back and let the men do things. I don’t agree with this though. Men are the ones who always go to the meetings, and then nothing ever changes. This is because the wrong people are going. Women are always so silent in decision making. Even though they have good ideas, they just stay back. We really need to change women’s mindset and help them to see where they can contribute…we really need to have equal participation of men and women.’

– Male Leader, Malekula Vanuatu^[6]. 

Improving the status of women requires significant social change, not just policy decisions. There is significant resource to show that when there are women in leadership, issues affecting women, youth and children are better addressed^[7].

There needs to be a deeper understanding from the public donating to NGOs working in the South Pacific, and these organizations themselves, around the social and cultural complexities facing women in the South Pacific.

Aiding the South Pacific

It seems that every few years, there are new meetings, committees and development goals^[8] that attempt to address the status of women across the world. Communities of the South Pacific need less western intervention and more western understanding when attempting to aid women in this region.

“For centuries, Third World women, other black women and working-class women have struggled against double or triple exploitation. As a Kanak, I disagree strongly with the liberal feminist view that “we are all women facing the same problem against male supremacy’ .”

– Susanna Ounei-Small, Kanaky (New Caledonia), 1995^[9].

While we too are Pacific women, here on the west coast of Canada, it is important to note that gender inequality takes different forms for women depending on their circumstances. Factors such as race, age, location and the structure of local communities have a tremendous difference in the form and severity of gender inequality. It is a mistake to homogenize the experiences of women from across the world, as different contexts bring about different degrees of oppression.

The Complex Narrative Around the Status of Women

A balance between international development and understanding local community structures must be made in order to effectively aid women of the South Pacific.

It is important to note that a complex dichotomy between western or state law and community traditions exists in many regions of the Pacific, such as kastom law in Vanuatu^[10]. It is likewise important to know that community structures vastly differ within SIDS of the Pacific. This makes it essential for groups seeking to effectively work with women to be aware of the complex structure of communities in the South Pacific and the expected role of women in these communities.

The South Pacific has been touched by centuries of colonial influence and intervention. This makes it hard to determine whether the gender hierarchy that can be seen in Pacific communities has been shaped by the influence of patriarchal institutions over the course of western development or not^[11].

While many states in the South Pacific, including Vanuatu, Kiribati and Samoa, have been acceded^[12] into the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)^[13], aid initiatives still play a vital role in the region due to continuing violence against women^[14].

Targeted women’s resources that have been implemented in the South Pacific include women’s networks, cooperatives and centers, safe houses and helplines. Women’s centers and cooperatives, specifically, act as legal information hubs and as an informal platform for women to share ideas. They also act as safe spaces for women^[15].

‘This woman has never used the state system, so she doesn’t understand the processes. But she knows about the VWC [Vanuatu Women’s Centre] and domestic violence issues, and she knows that women should go to the Women’s Centre when they are facing these kinds of issues.’

– Researcher (Commenting on a female respondent in Central Malekula)^[16].

Women’s centers and cooperatives can act as the “middle ground” for women seeking council on domestic violence and health issues that neither community law or state law has been able to address successfully^[17].

Women’s centers and cooperatives can also act as a social change mechanism to compliment gender policy. It takes time to change attitudes and behaviors of people. Policy such as the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration (PLGED) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) have put in place guidelines for independent nations to abide by, while women’s networks and cooperatives are addressing the immediate needs of women in the South Pacific.

 

Taking Action

The fundamental issue is how women are perceived in their societies. Violence against women, lack of economic opportunities, under-representation in leadership and limited access to healthcare and education are all symptoms of gender inequality. These are all the same thread that women share, to varying degrees, around the globe.

Supporting women, all women, is crucial to raise the status of women in the South Pacific. Have conversations about gender equality. Educate yourself on the obstacles women face, particularly in South Pacific communities. Seek out NGOs who are making the priorities of women their focus.

References:

1. United Nations Women, ‘Women’s leadership and political participation’ http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation

2. Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (2012) Forty-Third Pacific Islands Forum Rarotonga, Cook Islands 28-30 August 2012. http://www.forumsec.org/resources/uploads/attachments/documents/2012%20Forum%20Communique,%20Rarotonga,%20Cook%20Islands%2028-30%20Aug1.pdf.

3. Whittington, S., Ospina, S., & Pollard, A. A. E. (2006) Women in Government in Solomon Islands: A Diagnostic Study. Honiara: RAMSI. http://www.pacwip.org/resources/uploads/attachments/documents/WID%20Solomon%20Islands%20Diagnostc%20Study%20-%202006.pdf .

4. The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (2016) Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration Trend Assessment Report 2012-2016. PIFS Cataloguing-in-Publication. ISBN 978-982-202-047-2. http://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/publication/Pacific_Leaders_Gender_Equality_Declaration_2016.pdf. Pages 21, 25, 29 and 77.

5. The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (2016) Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration Trend Assessment Report 2012-2016. PIFS Cataloguing-in-Publication. ISBN 978-982-202-047-2. http://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/publication/Pacific_Leaders_Gender_Equality_Declaration_2016.pdf. Page 75.

6. The Policing and Justice Support Program (2016) Conflict Management and Access to Justice in Rural Vanuatu. http://www.mjcs.gov.vu/images/stretem_rod/Conflict_Management_and_A2J_in_Rural_Vanuatu.pdf. Pages 113.

7. Crawford, J. & Fairhurst, R. (2014) “What do women and men in Fiji think about women in politics? New insights on where change is happening”, Devpolicy Blog, November 19th, http://devpolicy.org/what-do-women-and-men-in-fiji-think-about-women-in-politics-new-insights-on-where-change-is-happening-20141119/.

8. United Nations General Assembly (2015) Sustainable Development Goals. http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.

9. Ounei-Small, S. (1995) “Decolonising Feminism” in Tok Blong Pasifik Vol. 49 #2 June 1995. Page 20. https://archive.pacificpeoplespartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/49-2-Tok-Blong-Pasifik-June-1995-m.pdf .

10. The Policing and Justice Support Program (2016) Conflict Management and Access to Justice in Rural Vanuatu. http://www.mjcs.gov.vu/images/stretem_rod/Conflict_Management_and_A2J_in_Rural_Vanuatu.pdf. Page 6.

11. Campbell, I. C. (1989) A history of the Pacific Islands. University of California Press. Berkley and Los Angeles. https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Ex7jr346fZUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA6&dq=settler+influence+south+pacific+islands&ots=mA7NI9DVwp&sig=hoMwMyCLp1RvVNfjCipRQ2N1lkk#v=onepage&q=settler%20influence%20south%20pacific%20islands&f=false.
12. United Nations Children’s Fund (1999) Introduction to the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Definition of Key Terms. https://www.unicef.org/french/crc/files/Definitions.pdf.
13. UN General Assembly (1979) The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/text/econvention.htm.
14. Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (2016) Annual Progress Report 2015-2016: Supporting the Pacific Leaders’ Gender Equality Declaration. http://pacificwomenreport.org/. Page 38.
15. George, N. (2012) Situating Women: Gender Politics and Circumstances in Fiji. ANU E Press. Canberra. https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwibj9Cp5-rRAhVEy2MKHfBwAKYQFggtMAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oapen.org%2Fdownload%3Ftype%3Ddocument%26docid%3D459879&usg=AFQjCNE4KSJKRsZsbDoVbGur9hpfQZxskg. Page 21.
16. The Policing and Justice Support Program (2016) Conflict Management and Access to Justice in Rural Vanuatu. http://www.mjcs.gov.vu/images/stretem_rod/Conflict_Management_and_A2J_in_Rural_Vanuatu.pdf. Page 127.
17. The Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2015) ‘Case study: Vanuatu Women’s Centre works in partnership with the police to eliminate violence against women’. November 26. http://dfat.gov.au/news/news/Pages/vanuatu-womens-centre-works-in-partnership-with-policy-to-eliminate-vaw.aspx.

^[1] United Nations Women, ‘Women’s leadership and political participation’.

^[2] Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (2012) Forty-Third Pacific Islands Forum Rarotonga, Cook Islands 28-30 August 2012.

^[3] Whittington, S., Ospina, S., & Pollard, A. A. E. (2006) Women in Government in Solomon Islands: A Diagnostic Study. Honiara: RAMSI.

^[4] The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (2016) Pacific Leaders gender Equality Declaration Trend Assessment Report 2012-2016. Pg. 21, 25, 29 and 77.

^[5] The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (2016) Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration Trend Assessment Report 2012-2016. Page 75.

^[6] The Policing and Justice Support Program (2016) Conflict Management and Access to Justice in Rural Vanuatu. Page 113.

^[7] Crawford, Joanne & Fairhurst, Rachel (2014) “What do women and men in Fiji think about women in politics? New insights on where change is happening”.

^[8] United Nations General Assembly (2015) Sustainable Development Goals.

^[9] Ounei-Small, S. (1995) “Decolonising Feminism”.

^[10] The Policing and Justice Support Program (2016) Conflict Management and Access to Justice in Rural Vanuatu. Page 6.

^[11] Campbell, I. C. (1989) A history of the Pacific Islands.

^[12] United Nations Children’s Fund (1999) Introduction to the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Definition of Key Terms.

^[13] UN General Assembly (1979) The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

^[14] Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (2016) Annual Progress Report 2015-2016: Supporting the Pacific Leaders’ Gender Equality Declaration.

^[15] George, N. (2012) Situating Women: Gender Politics and Circumstances in Fiji. Page 21.

^[16] The Policing and Justice Support Program (2016) Conflict Management and Access to Justice in Rural Vanuatu. Page 127.

^[17] The Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2015) ‘Case study: Vanuatu Women’s Centre works in partnership with the police to eliminate violence against women’.