Women's equal rights not a priority for candidates [1]
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 06:35. Updated on Saturday, May 3, 2014 - 19:58.
Guaranteeing equal rights for women in Tonga by endorsing CEDAW was not a commitment for four of the candidates running for election, who did not understand the Convention to End All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Meeting the Press on October 13 four candidates answered questions on the theme "If they go into the house would they push for Tonga to become a signatory to the CEDAW Convention and would they draft laws for women to have equal rights to own properties and to hold noble titles."
Participating in the public dialogue at the Dateline Hotel on Wednesday, October 13 were prospective candidates, Linda Ma'u, Vuna Fa'otusia, 'Amanaki Paea and 'Aisake Tu'iono, who believed that they could protect women's rights without Tonga endorsing CEDAW.
Linda Ma'u, a candidate for the Tongatapu No. 4 constituency expressed her concern that if Tonga became a signatory to CEDAW, it might mean legalizing abortion and same-sex-marriage, two practices that she detested. However, when asked to point out where in the CEDAW it required this, she did not know.
With regards to the rights of women to own hereditary land and noble titles. Linda pointed out that women can lease land, and she said that should satisfy their desire to own property. To protect women against the growing problem of wife beatings and the sexual abuse of women, Linda believed that parliament should draft legislation but at the same time Tonga should not be pressured to sign the CEDAW.
Vuna Fa'otusia, a candidate for Tongatapu No. 7 said that there is a Department of Women Affairs and Tonga traditionally looked after its women's affairs. "The problem is the law, it does not reflect the seriousness of crimes against women," Vuna said that the maximum imprisonment sentence for rape is 15, where as in some states in the USA it was life. He believed that sex offences such as incest deserved a very heavy penalty. With regards to government endorsing CEDAW and the possibility of Tonga legalizing same-sex marriages to take place, Vuna's reaction was "never."
'Amanaki Paea, a candidate for Tongatapu No. 7 took a different approach to women's issues. He said that with the establishment of constituencies and possibly Local Government there should be a Pressure Group in each constituency to monitor and to protect women's rights. He believed that the work of Pressure Groups would be most effective in protecting women's rights.
'Aisake Tu'iono, a candidate for Tongatapu No. 9, disapproved with the CEDAW if it meant Tonga had to legalize abortion and allow same-sex marriages. He suggested that a definite decision on CEDAW could only be made following a national survey.
In response to a question of whether or not he was in favour of the idea of designated seats for women, 'Aiske believed that women had the equal opportunities and rights to become a member of parliament and therefore there was no need to have designated seats in parliament for women.
'Aisake said he was a strong believer in a national survey, on any issues before government passed a decision and take action.
With six weeks to go before the November 25 election, there will be five more "Candidates meeting the Press" programs. On Wednesday, October 20 candidates will answer questions on the theme "Foreign trade and encouraging foreign earnings", with candidates Masaso Paunga, Sione Tupouniua, 'Ulhila Liava'a, and 'Etuate Sakalia. The final program will be on November 17.