REMARKS: PIF SG Waqa at the official opening of the Pacific CEDAW Technical Cooperation Session

Opening remarks delivered by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa

at the PIF Secretariat, Suva, Fiji

07 April 2025

Prime Minister of Fiji, Honorable Sitiveni Rabuka

Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Right Honourable Feleti Teo,

Chair of the CEDAW Pacific Technical Cooperation Session, Ms Nahla Haidar and your committee members

Honourable Ministers,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

Bula vinaka

It is indeed a great honour to welcome you all to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat for the first-ever CEDAW Committee Technical Cooperation Session to be held in our Blue Pacific region.

This is a truly historic occasion. One that not only marks a milestone in our shared journey to advance gender equality but also reaffirms the collective commitment of our region to uphold the rights and dignity of all women and girls – in all their diversity.

We recognise the leadership of our Forum Island country governments, many of whom have made deliberate efforts to ensure that women and girls enjoy equal rights, equal opportunities, and full participation in all spheres of life – from homes and communities to parliaments and boardrooms.

For decades, the Pacific has nurtured a proud and resilient tradition of women-led advocacy and civil society mobilisation. 

Across our islands, Pacific women have been at the forefront of transformational change – challenging norms, advocating for justice, and reshaping policy and practice to reflect the lived realities of our communities.

At the regional level, this commitment is embedded in key frameworks such as the revitalised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration (PLGED), and the Pacific Platform for Action on Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights (PPA). 

These frameworks are contextualised for our Pacific realities, yet fully aligned with our global obligations, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Importantly, gender equality and women’s empowerment are also central pillars of our 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent under the thematic area of People Centered development. 

As our long-term vision for a resilient, sustainable and inclusive Pacific, the 2050 Strategy recognises that achieving gender equality is not only a matter of rights and justice – it is essential for the sustainable development, peace, and prosperity of our region.

This Technical Cooperation Session is one of the important outcomes of the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting in 2023, and a tangible demonstration of our commitment to action – to strengthening national capacities, enhancing regional cooperation, and ensuring that CEDAW reporting is meaningful and impactful for the lives of Pacific women and girls.

At this juncture, I commend the three countries presenting to the Committee this week – Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and host country Fiji. Your dedication to seeing this process through is commendable. 

I wish you all a constructive and fruitful dialogue.

To our other Forum Members attending as observers – I encourage you to make the most of this week’s rich discussions. 

This is an opportunity to exchange insights, foster peer learning, and deepen our collective commitment to addressing gender equality in the Pacific Way.

To the distinguished members of the CEDAW Committee – we are honoured by your presence. 

I trust that your time here in Fiji will provide a deeper appreciation of our region – our strengths and challenges, our stories and solutions – and most of all, the incredible resilience and leadership of Pacific women and girls.

Finally, I express my sincere appreciation to the Government and people of Fiji for your warm hospitality and your steadfast support in hosting this landmark session.

Let us move forward from this gathering with renewed resolve – to amplify the voices of Pacific women and girls, to advance accountability for gender equality, and to realise the vision of the 2050 Strategy: a resilient, inclusive and peaceful Blue Pacific for all.

It is now my great pleasure to introduce the Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Ms Nahla Haidar to the opening of this historic session.

Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you.

[ENDS]