Gender awareness training for SPC staff
 

Staff from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Noumea began a week of gender awareness training. The training will give staff a better understanding of gender issues in SPC itself and in the context of working in the Pacific region. It will also ensure that all staff are familiar with SPC’s gender and sexual harassment policies and regional commitments on gender issues.

‘The Pacific Platform for Action and the Pacific Plan, which have been endorsed by Pacific leaders, emphasise the necessity of ensuring equal opportunities in all areas of development. The Nadi Declaration of 2004 recognises that sustainable development is not possible without the advancement of women.

International commitments to gender include the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action and the Millennium Development Goals. Objective three of the Millennium Development Goals specifically addresses gender equality and empowerment of women.
 

In his opening speech this morning SPC’s Deputy Director-General, Richard Mann, said that as a regional organisation, SPC has a responsibility to make sure it takes gender concerns into account in its work, ‘Here at SPC we recognise that we have an important role to play in ensuring the implementation of all international and regional gender commitments to truly advance development in the Pacific.’ An important aspect of the SPC gender training is to identify practical ways to ensure that gender issues are addressed and acted on at SPC in the management and operation of the organisation and in the delivery of technical programmes.

SPC aims to mainstream gender in all its programmes and staff based in Fiji have already received similar training. Through its Human Development Programme, SPC also carries out gender awareness training in all the Pacific subregions. The manager of the Human Development Programme, Linda Petersen, says the training is part of a continuing process. ‘The proof of its success can only be demonstrated in our programmes and services to member countries and through transparent and fair corporate management practice.’

Contact
For more information, contact Tione Chinula, HDP Communication and Advocacy Officer, via email: tionec@spc.int or by phone: (+687) 26 01 57.