16th June, 2016 The Minister of Internal Affairs officially opens a one day forum about the Progress of the Revised National Policy on Gender and Development this morning.
The Women’s Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs together with DFAT Australia are hosting the Forum with its key stakeholders to discuss and share updates on the progress of the National Gender Policy that began implementation in 2014-2018. As two years have now passed since the Policy came into force, the Forum is intended to look at the progress together with the key stakeholders for better implementation of the Policy onwards.
The Forum is conducted as an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and strengthen networks for greater collaboration. It is a chance for government line ministries and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to update and share information across various national sectors. The Forum plans to end the day with stakeholders and the Women’s Division mapping areas of current efforts, funding sources and most importantly – a way forward for the main outcomes of the Gender Policy.
The six main outcomes of the Policy are:
- Enabling familial and social environment for gender equality
- Equitable access to economic assets and employment
- Increased women’s leadership and equitable political representation
- Create equal conditions to respond to natural disasters and environmental and climate change
- Increased focus on addressing the additional vulnerability experienced by female headed households; women with disabilities; and women in rural areas, especially in the outer islands
- Enabling environment for mainstreaming gender across government policies, programs and services
The Forum will begin with sessions that look at the national progress of gender equality with sessions on linking gender to National Outcomes set in the Tonga Strategic Framework II (TSDF), current progress from the Women’s Division and discussions from CSOs on a way forward for all involved. The next sessions will focus on thematic areas such as Domestic Violence, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and Gender Equity during natural disasters and climate change. The results of the mapping exercise will greatly assist the Policy and coordination of efforts for the overall progress of gender equality in Tonga.
All media agencies and focal points are welcome to attend.
ENDS
Issued from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, P.O Box 2395, Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga, Telephone: (+676) 27145 / 24299 Fax: (+676) 27099