^{Friday 22 June 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Noumea}

With delegates from around the world converging on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to set a new global agenda for sustainable development, it is worth recalling regional and international commitments to gender equality, which are critical for achieving sustainable development in Pacific Island countries and territories. Gender equality is highlighted as a cross-cutting strategic objective in the Pacific Plan and is recognised as a critical issue to achieving sustainable development outcomes for the region.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community, in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, has developed a gender brief for the Pacific delegates attending the Rio +20 conference.  It aims to draw their attention to the importance of gender equality and to ensure contributions to the global sustainable development agenda and negotiations take into consideration relevant commitments made at the regional and international levels.
 

Rio +20: Important issues for Pacific Island women