The views expressed in this paper are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the

views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.

StrategicEffortsandRegional Coordinationinthe Pacific

By:SeemaNaidu PIFSGenderIssuesOfficer July20123

TheForumIslandLeaders throughthePacificPlan shared h dtheir h i perspectives i onafuturefortheregion, aregionofpeace, peace harmony,securityand economicp prosperity, p y,so thatallofitspeoplecan leadfreeandworthwhile lives.

 CEDAW(Conventionon EliminationofAllFormsof DiscriminationAgainstWomen, Women 2ratificationspendinginFICs Tonga,PalauICESCR(Social, Economic,Cultural)rights3 Ratifications UNSpecialRapporteur Visits( water,VAW,AdequateHousing) WorkingGroupRegionalHuman RightsMechanism

WAIHEKEDECLARATIONON SUSTAINABLEECONOMICDEVELOPMENT theforumleaderspledged theircommitmentstowardsaddressing economicandsocialchallenges facedintheregion,includingthosearisingfromclimatechange,the increasingcostsandinsecuritiesofsupplyofdailynecessitiessuchas energyandfood,andtheimpactsofurbanisationandnaturaldisasters. Leaders d recognised i dthat h sustainable i bl economic i development d l increases i the h resilienceofcommunities,includingtheirmostvulnerablemembers.They furthercommittedtoraisingeducationalstandardsandexpand opportunitiesforacquiringtechnicalandvocationalskillsrelevanttojob markets,especiallyforwomen,includingthroughnonformaleducation andtrainingprovision

PacificWomen Womens sMinisterialWorkshopon ClimateChangein2011,Ministersrecognised

Womenandmenalsoplaydifferentrolesandhavedifferent patternsofusingnaturalresources.Unfortunately,thereis verylittleinformationongenderdimensionsoftheuse pattern tt and dmanagement tof fnatural t lresources,traditional t diti l knowledge,roleinfoodsecurityanddisasterpreparedness. Womenplayanimportantroleinprotectingwatersources andenergyuse.Womensparticipationandinfluenceonfood, water,landandenergyisessentialforasustainablePacific.

43rd ForumLeadersMeeting

 Expressedconcernsoverall progressinthe h region towardsgenderequality Commitmenttoeffortsto liftthestatusofwomen Empowerthemtobeactive participantsineconomic, politicalandsociallife

Leaderscommittoimplementspecific national i lpolicy li action i toprogress genderequalityintheareasofgender responsivegovernmentprogramsand policies, p ,decisionmaking, g,economic empowerment,endingviolenceagainst women healthandeducation women,

4KeyMessages
1. RegionalismpromotesWomenEqualityand Empowermentaddressrootcausesofgender inequalities 2. PoliticalcommitmentincludesAction 3. Strongeraccountabilityandmonitoringmeasures 4. Humanrightsandwomensequalityand empowermentcentraltoallstrategicinterventions