The Government of the Kingdom of Tonga announced this evening that it has agreed to ratify the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) after lengthy and thorough discussions in Cabinet last week, on Wednesday 4 and Friday 6 March 2015.

It is expected that Tonga’s delegation will announce Tonga’s decision to ratify CEDAW during the 59th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) plenary in New York, scheduled for Monday 9 March (New York time).

The decision comes as a breakthrough for Tonga's women's organisations who have been seeking government's consent for two decades. Tonga is one of only seven countries in the world that has not signed the convention.

In a statement the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva, called it “a historic day for all Tongans...in support of our endeavour to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls.”

However, the Prime Minister recognised that some of the provisions of CEDAW are clearly in conflict with Tonga’s Constitution and laws, particularly regarding succession to the throne and nobility and its land laws.

“Cabinet’s decision to ratify CEDAW was arrived at only after lengthy and thorough discussions, and after consultations by individual members of Cabinet with community and church leaders, and their constituencies.

“So our decision to ratify was made on the very clear understanding that the Government’s ratification will be with reservations in respect of those provisions that are incompatible with our laws.”

Tonga’s ratification will include the declaration that, the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga is prepared to apply the provisions of the Convention nationally, on the condition that it does not conflict with the provisions of the Constitution and all the laws of Tonga regarding succession to the throne and nobility, abortion and same sex marriage.

Today's statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that the last time Cabinet had discussed the ratification of CEDAW was in December 2011, when it decided to hold public consultations around Tonga’s reservations in respect of the specific articles of CEDAW that were clearly in conflict with the Constitution and the laws of Tonga.

At the most recent consultation in February 2015 the major stakeholders decided that it was time to re-submit the ratification of CEDAW to Cabinet for consideration and approval.

Beijing Declaration

Government’s agreement to ratify CEDAW comes on the eve of the 20th Anniversary of the “Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action”, that was adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Tonga’s delegation to the Beijing Conference was led by Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho (now the Queen Mother).

The “Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action” is the main focus of the 59th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, which will be held on 9-20 March 2015, including the current challenges that affect its implementation, and the achievement of gender equality, and the empowerment of women throughout the world.

Tonga’s delegation to the 59th Session of CSW, and the 20th Anniversary of the “Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action”, is being led by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon Sosefo Fe’aomoeata Vakata. It is expected that the  Minister will announce Tonga’s decision to ratify CEDAW during his address to the CSW59 plenary today, March 9.

See also:

Tonga ready to sign CEDAW and move forward [2]