Photo: SPC with CEDAW Committee members in Geneva
Details: The session will span five days, with a mix of formal exchanges, thematic discussions, and interactive dialogues to foster learning and collaboration. Key activities include:
- Thematic Discussions (7–8 April, University of the South Pacific, Suva): Sessions on women's political participation, gender-based violence, climate justice, and other key issues will bring together government representatives, CSOs, academics, and development partners.
- Country Exchanges (9–11 April, Pacific Islands Forum Venue, Suva): Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu will engage in structured dialogues with the CEDAW Committee, leading to concluding observations at the Committee's 91st session in Geneva (June 2025).
Background
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) will hold its first-ever Pacific Technical Cooperation session from 7 to 11 April 2025 in Fiji, to review the CEDAW reports of Fiji, Tuvalu, and Solomon Islands. This is the first time that the full Committee will be reviewing country reports in the Pacific.
The request for a Technical Cooperation session by CEDAW was proposed by Fiji and unanimously endorsed at the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting in August 2023. The proposal was subsequently endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders at their meeting in September 2023.
The first two days of the Pacific Technical Cooperation Session of the CEDAW Committee, held at the University of the South Pacific from 7–8 April, will feature thematic discussions on key gender equality issues in the region. These sessions will provide a platform for government representatives, civil society organizations, development partners, academics, and regional organisations to exchange best practices, explore innovative solutions, and strengthen partnerships to advance women's rights. Topics will include women's political participation; the intersection of Pacific culture, faith, and the barriers and opportunities for CEDAW implementation; gender and climate justice; access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence; and the role of youth and grassroots organisations in driving gender equality.
These discussions will serve as a valuable lead-up to the formal review process, scheduled from 9–11 April at the Pacific Islands Forum venue in Suva, ensuring a holistic and inclusive approach to advancing gender equality across the region.