From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.

The Tonga Government in December 2002 launched its National Policy on Gender and Development, with a clear objective that by 2025, “all men, women, children and the families in Tonga should achieve equal access to economic, social, political and religious opportunities and benefits.”

The Policy is a major undertaking by government to achieve this aim within 25 years.

Polotu Paunga, the head of the Women’s Development Centre, responsible for the drafting of the National Policy, said that the success of the policy depended entirely on the people, “what they want, and if they will support our strategy and our outlined priorities.”

Polotu said that government in 1993 had approved the formulation of a national policy on Women in Development, and since 1997 UNDP had contributed to the financing of the Gender and Development Policy. The UNDP funding ended in December 2002 and they were now looking for interested donors to finance the implementation of the policy.

Difficult issues

However, Bishop Foliaki of the Catholic Church Tonga believed that it would take longer than 25 years for Tonga to achieve a state of equality. “I think it would be a long process given that there are certain aspects of our Tongan culture that are difficult to change.” Bishop Foliaki said that the policy may seem unrealistic now, “but at the same time we should take notice that the Christian teaching clearly states the need for equality between men and women.”

The Director of the Faith Seminary, Dr Viliami Fukofuka, was optimistic that the national policy on gender and development could be achieved within 25 years. He said that if the Women’s Development Centre strictly followed their strategy then it was possible to achieve their vision. Viliami foresaw a number of difficult issues that needed to be dealt with, “such as the land and the inheritance issues.”

Women’s views

Interestingly, some women remain sceptical about the policy on Gender and Development.

Rev. Toe‘umu Fineanganofo of the Anglican Church disagreed with the National Policy, “because at the moment Tongan women have unique rights that some other Pacific Islands do not have. Tongan women were always unique. From the beginning Tongan women were always highly respected in the Tongan society, and are still respected now. So, with this policy for more equality between men and women, it does not apply to Tonga, the average housewives will not be benefiting from this policy.”

Toe‘umu believed that the only women who would benefit from this policy, “are those who have well-off ranks in government and are pushing for higher salaries, better jobs and more power.”

The Chief Immigration Officer, Susana Fotu, is another women with a different view on the issue of Gender and Development. “The National Policy on Gender and Development is just not an issue for me,” said Susana, “mainly because I do not look at gender, I think if you are a man or woman and you are doing your job, then you deserve what you get and achieve in life. When I look at people I do not see a he or she, I look at people as individuals and as a person.”

‘Ilaivaha Malu, a professional woman and the Manager of Dominion Insurance in Nuku‘alofa, supports the National Policy on Gender and Development. Vaha said she would like to see more women coming and working in the private sector, “and more involved at the decision making level.”

With regards to the traditional Fahu concept where sisters rank higher than brothers, she believed that Fahu is “merely a figurehead role.” The one big issue that Vaha would like to see being legalised, “is for a woman to inherit land.”