Tonga reaffirmed its support of advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls, at the World Conference on Women in the 80^thsession of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), held in New York this week. 

Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Sinaitakala Tu’itahi, delivered Tonga’s statement at the commemoration of the 30^th anniversary of the ‘Fourth World Conference on Women’ and the adoption of the ‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’ yesterday, 23 September. 

“Thirty years ago, the world came together in Beijing and made a promise to advance gender equality and empower women and girls through the Beijing Platform for Action. Today, on this 30^th anniversary, Tonga stands proudly with the global community to reaffirm that promise” she said. 

Hon. Tu’itahi highlighted Tonga’s progress toward gender equality, including the enactment of the Family Protection Act, record-high female secondary school completion rates (91%), among the highest in the Pacific, implementation of the Public Service Commission’s Sexual Harassment Policy, expanded support for women-owned small and medium enterprises; and the pilot launch of the Integrated Aged Care Programme, recognizing women’s roles as caregivers and leaders in aging societies. 

She called on the global community to prioritize gender-responsive budgeting, funding for gender-responsive climate and disaster resilience, and investment in women and girl-led green economy initiatives. 

The Beijing Platform was adopted in 1995 by 189 countries including Tonga and it remains the most comprehensive global roadmap for gender equality. At that time Tonga's 30-member delegation was led by the late Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho and included the late ‘Akosita Fineanganofo, Lady ‘Eseta Fusitu’a, Lady Tuna Fielakepa, Fuiva Kavaliku, Salamo Fulivai and youth delegates ‘Akanesi F. Polotu Paunga, and Milika Tuita.