Gender

Gender and the Pacific Islands Forum

Various key issues were raised at the 40th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting that was held in Auckland recently such as climate change and trade negotiations. An issue that did not get much attention is the role women play in development.

Gender is a fundamental issue for the Pacific Island Forum countries because it determines the different developmental needs and interests of various groups of women, men, girls and boys. Without giving due emphasis to gender analysis, regional policies and programmes may not benefit Pacific people equally, with the needs and interests of women and girls more likely to be overlooked.

Understanding and investing in gender equality is central to sustainable development, attainment of human and political security, good governance and management of resources. A gender approach equally takes into account the different knowledge, roles and responsibilities of women and men and recognises that, to affect long-term positive change in the conditions of communities and nations, actions and attitudes about men’s and women’s roles and rights in society must change.

Thus, gender is a critical and cross-cutting consideration in development policy and planning. Failure to strive for gender equality creates an opportunity cost ill afforded by the Pacific Island Countries, as their development is reliant on maximising the potential of their human resources.

Moreover, Forum member countries are party to a range of international and regional commitments to improve gender equality in social, economic and political spheres of life. CID members should consider recommendations provided by the Pacific Plan which has various specific strategic objectives for improving gender equality in the Pacific.

Read the Pacific Plan here:
http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2005/March/faq_pp.pdf