Tongan parliament decides not to ratify CEDAW [1]
Friday, September 18, 2009 - 10:47. Updated on Friday, August 22, 2014 - 10:38.
1.Tonga's cultural and constitutional roots are innately strong. Tonga is proud of its 132 years old Constitution in which are enshrined most of the basic human rights and freedoms which are, today, the subject of International Treaties.
2.The Tongan way of life is not solely based on the rights and responsibilities, freedoms and obligations of the individual, but also emphasises the rights, responsibilities, freedoms and obligations of the individual to the extended family and whole community.
3.Today the Tonga Legislative Assembly considered ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. It voted 18 to 1 with 4 abstentions to not ratify CEDAW at this time. The Legislative Assembly believed that to ratify CEDAW would cut across our cultural and social heritage that makes up the Tongan way of life. It would require the creation of fundamental changes for every Tongan citizen to a way of life and social organisation that has sustained Tonga to date. The Legislative Assembly could not in good conscience force those fundamental changes upon the Tongan people. In any event the majority of the Tongan people, much like the majority of the Legislative Assembly on this resolution to reject ratification of CEDAW, would not accept such fundamental changes.
4.Tonga takes the ratification of International Treaties very seriously. Tonga did not want to be listed amongst those States who ratified with reservation as a matter of international convenience so they could look good in the eyes of friends or to simply appease critics. Tonga would rather be judged on its actions of empowerment of women in Tongan society over the past century than by a ratification of convenience .
5.As the Tonga Government representatives said last year in Geneva before the UN Human Rights Council during our Universal Periodic Review, ...... in the Tongan social structure women outrank their male relatives. Women are respected and cherished. Women outnumber men in educational achievement at primary, secondary and tertiary level. Leadership positions in business and government are held by Women....
6.Rather than ratify CEDAW with reservation and thereby compromise Tonga...s long family, cultural and social history Tonga would instead address specific areas of concern for women and continue to cherish and respect their unique place in our society.
7.Tonga also has a Land Commission and Law Commission diligently reviewing the many issues surrounding the ownership, acquisition, management and disposition of land and the due administration of Justice.
8.The work of these Commissions will enable Government to honour its UPR pledges and consider other conventions such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
9.Most importantly Tonga will maintain a leading role in the promotion and protection of human rights in the Pacific. Tonga wishes to follow up its excellent Universal Periodic Review with a proposal to develop a United Nations resolution by Pacific Islands Forum States that:
- Acknowledges the commitments made by Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders in the Pacific Plan towards the promotion of human rights in the region
- Recognises particular demands placed on small Pacific States by the international human rights system, including through treaty body reporting requirements
- Encourages OHCHR to provide technical and financial support to Pacific Islands Forum members to contribute to regional efforts to promote human rights and participate in the international human rights system. PM Office, 17/09/09.