13th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and 6th Meeting of Ministers for Women (2017)

Economic empowerment of Pacific Women

The 13^th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and 6^th Meeting of Ministers for Women will take place in Suva (Fiji) from 2 to 5 October 2017.  The purpose of the Conference is to bring together decision-makers within Pacific governments, development partners, research institutions and civil society organisations to share experiences, reflect on the progress and challenges to date, identify strategic and practical measures and make recommendations to accelerate progress towards achieving gender equality and a full realisation of women’s human rights in our region.

Theme

Pacific Women’s economic empowerment

Venue and Date

• Novotel Suva, Fiji
• 2 to 5 October 2017

Preparations

A draft of the Revised Pacific Platform for Action 2018-2030 (RPPA) are available here: part I and part II). Countries and territories are encouraged to hold consultations prior to their participation to the Conference and the Ministers Meeting in order to facilitate their involvement in the negotiations leading to the endorsement of the above documents by the Ministers.

Countries and territories have the possibility to participate in the online consultation on the Revised Pacific Platform for Action (RPPA) on Advancement of Women and Gender Equality from 3 to 24 of July 2017.

Organisation of the Conference and Ministers Meeting

A detailed outline of the Conference and Ministers Meeting is available here.

• Recommendations and outcomes endorsed on 5 October 2017
• PPA on Gender equality and Women’s Humain rights 2018-2030 – Endorsed by the Ministers for Women’s on 5th October 2017

Outcomes document

The outcome of agreements based on the Conference theme will be negotiated by the delegates during the Conference and submitted to the Ministers Meeting for endorsement. Click here.

Documentation

The Regional overview on women’s economic empowerment and other documents for the Conference and Ministers’ meeting will be uploaded on this webpage and be made available to countries.

• Regional overview
• Equality in the Pacific
• Beijing + 20: review of progress in implementing the Beijing platform for action in Pacific Islands countries and territories 
• Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration

Observers

Members of civil society organisations (CSOs) and the private sector, academics and development partners can attend the Conference and Ministers Meeting given they submit their registration to the Secretariat of the Conference by 30th August 2017.  The registration form for observers is available here. Please note that registration fees apply and need to be paid to SPC on the first day of the conference.

Parallel Sessions

The Conference provides the opportunity for governments, civil society organisations, and development partners to organise parallel sessions to share experiences and ideas during the two afternoons of the Conference.  Three parallel sessions will be led simultaneously.  The sessions have to contribute to the reflection on the Conference’s theme of women’s economic empowerment.  Organisations can submit a proposal to the Secretariat by the 31^st July.  The proposals will be examined by the steering committee.  Please note that the organisations submitting the proposal will be responsible for organising the session and any expenses that may incur in doing so. The form for submission is available here.

70 Inspiring Pacific Women

The Pacific Community turns 70 this year. In preparation of the 13^th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women SPC needs your help to identify 70 women, or groups of women, who have made a significant contribution to social, economic, cultural and political development in Pacific islands countries and territories.

The purpose is to celebrate the legacy of Pacific women in all their diversity who have worked and contributed to improve Pacific Island lives.

For more information and to participate in the 70 Inspiring Pacific Women campaign click here.

Steering Committee

The Pacific Community acts as the secretariat of the Conference.

The role of the steering committee is to facilitate the preparation of the Conference.  It advises the secretariat (SPC) on the format of the Conference, the theme and the agenda, and the key speakers.

The steering committee for the 13^th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women comprised the following members: representatives of Governments of Fiji, French Polynesia and Nauru; representatives of the following civil society organisations: Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), Femlink PACIFIC, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, on behalf of the Secretariat of the Pacific Feminist Forum; Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO); and representatives of regional organisations and development partners Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Government of Australia (DFAT) and UN Women.

For more information on the 13^th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women, please contact Brigitte Leduc at SPC – [email protected].