Tonga’s discriminatory laws against women do not have to be changed before Tonga ratifies CEDAW - the international convention that is recognised globally as the most important human rights treaty for women. This week strong recommendations are being made to a parliamentary standing committee and then to Cabinet to sign the 33 year old convention, in what will be a landmark decision for Tonga’s international reputation and its women.
“Tonga can ratify CEDAW. This allows us to continue discussions internally about amending our laws,” Lopeti Senituli, the CEO of Internal Affairs, told a roundtable meeting with relevant stakeholders from the community on February 12 in Nuku‘alofa.
Tonga’s reservations to accompany the ratification of CEDAW will be resubmitted to Cabinet for consideration, possibly this Friday, February 27.
“We are recommending that Tonga sign it,” said Lopeti today.
The 33-year-old Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is one of the most highly ratified international human rights conventions, having the support of 188 States parties. When governments become States parties to a convention, they can enter “reservations or declarations” by identifying particular elements of a treaty they will not be bound to.
Only seven countries have not signed CEDAW and Tonga is on that list — in company with Iran, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia - four nations known for their human rights violations. The other two countries are Palau and the USA, which is regarded as “the only democracy that has not ratified the convention ”- although internally President Carter signed CEDAW at its outset and President Obama has also committed wholeheartedly to it.
Tonga’s new parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs, chaired by the Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Fe’ao Vakata will hear a presentation tomorrow, February 24 from Tongan women and stakeholders who have been working on CEDAW for many years. The Minister is seeking clarification and open and honest dialogue around the issues that they are not up to par with, in preparation for the final submissions to Cabinet
“We are making two recommendations to the parliamentary committee: 1. to ratify CEDAW without reservations; or 2. to ratify CEDAW with declarations,” said ‘Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki, who will join a ministerial delegation to New York in two weeks time for Tonga’s presentation to the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women, from March 9-20.
Tonga’s discriminatory laws against women do not have to be changed before Tonga ratifies CEDAW - the international convention that is recognised globally as the most important human rights treaty for women. This week strong recommendations are being made to a parliamentary standing committee and then to Cabinet to sign the 33 year old convention, in what will be a landmark decision for Tonga’s international reputation and its women.“Tonga can ratify CEDAW. This allows us to continue discussions internally about amending our laws,” Lopeti Senituli, the CEO of Internal Affairs, told a roundtable meeting with relevant stakeholders from the community on February 12 in Nuku‘alofa.Tonga’s reservations to accompany the ratification of CEDAW will be resubmitted to Cabinet for consideration, possibly this Friday, February 27.“We are recommending that Tonga sign it,” said Lopeti today.The 33-year-old Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is one of the most highly ratified international human rights conventions, having the support of 188 States parties. When governments become States parties to a convention, they can enter “reservations or declarations” by identifying particular elements of a treaty they will not be bound to.Only seven countries have not signed CEDAW and Tonga is on that list — in company with Iran, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia - four nations known for their human rights violations. The other two countries are Palau and the USA, which is regarded as “the only democracy that has not ratified the convention ”- although internally President Carter signed CEDAW at its outset and President Obama has also committed wholeheartedly to it.Tonga’s new parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs, chaired by the Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Fe’ao Vakata will hear a presentation tomorrow, February 24 from Tongan women and stakeholders who have been working on CEDAW for many years. The Minister is seeking clarification and open and honest dialogue around the issues that they are not up to par with, in preparation for the final submissions to Cabinet“We are making two recommendations to the parliamentary committee: 1. to ratify CEDAW without reservations; or 2. to ratify CEDAW with declarations,” said ‘Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki, who will join a ministerial delegation to New York in two weeks time for Tonga’s presentation to the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women, from March 9-20.
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