SUVA (Pacnews) — Cultural beliefs and traditional values are one the major barriers to Kiribati’s recognition of the contribution of women to society.
“It was certainly not an easy process because the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women is often viewed with suspicion by members of the society, given that the principles that it promotes often conflict with cultural and traditional values,” said Kiribati High Commissioner Reteta Rimon.
Rimon was chief guest at the launch of the joint UNIFEM/UNDP CEDAW Review report in Suva, Fiji.
Sharing her country’s experiences with CEDAW, the Kiribati diplomat said there is a need for a change in the mindset of policy makers and other stakeholders to embrace and implement CEDAW.
“For example, incorporating ‘sex’ in the constitution as one of the grounds for discrimination will challenge long held cultural belief against women, such as their ‘inferior’ inheritance right to family land/property, and their ‘inferior’ place in traditional decision making institutions,” she said.
“To change these beliefs, there is a need for extensive advocacy and education program to be carried out in our various countries.”
However, she said most Pacific island countries do not have the resources to undertake advocacy work, thus the delay in complying with provisions of CEDAW.
“Most of our countries have other urgent priorities to address and unfortunately legislative programs are not given that high priority. Without the continuing support of the donor community, Kiribati and other countries covered in the report, will take a very long time to make meaningful changes to our laws,” she said.
Despite the delays in compliance, Rimon said her government has adopted measures to address inequalities that women suffer from because of their gender.
“Some examples include the granting of paid maternity leave for working mothers, approving certain hours of work for breast feeding, repealing laws that require corroboration in rape cases and the adoption of a no drop policy in cases of violence against women. Women have also been appointed to statutory boards and women and young girls have equal opportunities for scholarships and employment. Kiribati has a woman vice president, two women heading the civil service and fisheries department and for the first time in 2004, our young women are employed in overseas cruise liner and admitted to the maritime school,” Rimon said.