75:(HDI). In terms of gender inequalities, a key indicator that stands out in the HDR is that in 2011, Tongan women constituted 3.4% of the elected representatives, which stands in stark contrast to the regional averages for East Asia and Pacific (20.2%) and small island developing countries (20.6%). Moreover, no woman was elected in the 2010 elections, albeit one who was appointed to a cabinet post. This poor political representation does not seem to stem from the low educational achievement of women, since, according to the 2011 HDR, 84% of women and 87.8% of men in Tonga had at least secondary education, which is well above the regional averages for East Asia and the Pacific and small island developing countries. There was disparity in women's labor force participation relative to men's participation rate: half the Tongan women were in the labor force compared to 75% of Tongan men.
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and preserved by lawmakers, government, and monarchy within Tonga. Great respect for the Anga
Fakatonga is also given by Tongan society in protection of culture and heritage. The Anga Fakatonga has preserved a rich and ancient culture that has codified law and social norms within today's current Tongan society. The Anga Fakatonga has been culturally protected and is rarely open to outside influence and intervention. In regards to women's rights and ratification of CEDAW (The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) the Anga Fakatonga has clashed with some of CEDAW reformation measures and has been a factor in the current non-ratification of CEDAW. Issues with Tonga's current laws and the Anga Fakatonga's adherence include women's land rights and loose enforcement of violence against women laws.
243:
former Prime
Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, who have said that they support the CEDAW. However, there is an overwhelming attitude in Parliament and in the general political environment that there are more pressing issues including political reform and economic development that have placed women's rights on the back burner. Women however do have a voting voice as of 1951 when the late Majesty Queen Salote Tupou III amended the constitution allowing this right. Women, by this amendment, were also allowed participation in parliament, however from the time that women were given the opportunity, only four have been voted in as a voice for the people on Parliament as People's Representatives in the Legislative Assembly.
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cultivation technique historically and presently has revolved around the importance of women and their responsibility for much of the labor burden associated with it. Tongan women's physical participation includes growing and marketing the agriculture produce. Although women have been pivotal in the cultivation and use of land, women still today, under the constitution of The
Kingdom of Tonga cannot own land. If a woman in Tonga wishes to use land for any purpose, including for cultivation, they cannot buy land but must only lease land for its temporary use.
205:
in Tonga. As a possible move towards an amendment of current constitutional restrictions of women and ownership of land, Tonga could take a huge step forward towards the ratification of the UN Convention of the
Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Independent of compliance and possible ratification of CEDAW, through an amendment of the current constitutional laws, it is thought that women's possible land ownership will help progress women's rights on a large scale.
183:-Ensuring the Girl Child's Participation which (article 12), is to encourage adults to listen to the opinions of children and involve them in decision making. "This does not give authority over adults and does not interfere with parents' rights and responsibilities in relations to matters affecting their children. The Convention recognizes that a child's participation in decision making must occur in a manner that is appropriate to the child's age and maturity."
234:
facilitate training services for Tongan organizations to promote their work to eliminate violence against women". In 2013 the Tongan legislature passed a Family
Protection Bill which gave police the ability to issue immediate protection orders, establishes procedures to informing victims of their rights and procedures, and created a committee to monitor implementation of the bill.
167:
or oldest sister in the family structure, has title given but traditionally does not have any decision making power. It could be argued that an increase in educated male and female population couples has balanced the decision making shared between both husband and wife. However, in extended family structure, the traditional kin based stratification is usually followed.
252:
can currently only be inherited by men. Aside from the nine seats in
Parliament and the two Governors' seats, there are twelve seats reserved for the Minister of the Crown which are all reserved and appointed by the King. Until the recent appointment of Alisi Taumoepeau in 2006 there had not been any Women appointed to Ministerial Positions.
274:
government policy and the implementation thereof and to hold public office and perform all public functions at all levels of government". Tonga has made specific goals in the development of women's rights that should comply more with the measures of CEDAW. Commitments and goals to improve political participation include;
27:, fail to comply entirely with the conventions requirements. Although considerations have been made by the Tongan parliament and government, ratification of CEDAW still remains unresolved. Factors determining the non-ratification of CEDAW are related to cultural protectionism of the Anga Fakatonga or "the Tongan way" of
251:
Until 2006, women have not been appointed to a
Ministerial Position. In May 2006, Solicitor General 'Alisi Taumoepeau was appointed Minister of Justice. Under the 1875 Tongan Constitution, women cannot be voted into one of the nine Noble seats or two Governors' seats as these aristocratic positions
166:
Decision making traditionally has been made by the father/husband. Imbedded deeply in the Tongan cultural framework, this patriarchal, or 'Ulumotu'a (oldest male) leadership places decisions final say with the male leader of any given Tongan family. The fahu, the highest female in social structure,
242:
Other issues of Tongan women's rights include women's low participation in government parliament. The parliament is the governing body that has historically and even in recent years rejected CEDAW, in an effort to protect the Anga
Fakatonga. There are some male political participants including the
233:
The
Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Mr. Thomas Roth pledged a $ 1 million UN Women Pacific Fund to End Violence Against Women in March 2012. HE Mr. Thomas Roth said in an announcement of the funds, "UN Women Pacific Fund to End Violence Against Women" would be used to establish grants and
229:
The
Solicitor General, 'Aminiasi Kefu pledged in early March 2012 initiatives set to protect women. These initiatives include a formal Bill on Domestic Violence, and a bill addressing Tongan women's land rights drafted in part by the Ministry of Women's Affairs. A pledge was also made that adoption
143:
Tonga's rich and ancient culture dates back an estimated 3000 years when the Tongan archipelago was inhabited. Tongan culture and society have evolved over many thousands of years creating the back bone of Tongan culture. Today Tongan culture and the Anga Fakatonga (Tongan way of life) is protected
204:
The Ministry of Women's Affairs in Tonga will be enacted and created by the end of 2012 and has been announced (March 2012). This will open up options, and possible conversation about women's rights, to review and possibly amend the current constitution in regards to the current women's land rights
195:
has been centered on cultivation and farming. Early explorers recorded accounts speak of beautiful gardens planted symmetrically and carefully cared for. Today much of Tonga, especially in remote rural areas and scattered on the many islands of Tonga, still rely on cultivation for livelihood. This
119:
voted 18 to 1 with 4 abstentions not to ratify CEDAW. In announcing the decision not to ratify, the Tongan Prime Minister stated that ratification would cut across our cultural and social heritage that makes up the Tongan way of life. Furthermore, Tonga did not want to ratify with reservations or
585:
reads: "Subject to clause 12 of the Constitution, in addition to liability under this Act, a respondent may also be prosecuted under other criminal laws for the time being in force for his acts if the facts disclose the commission of a separate criminal offence under
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for the past 11 years. On 9 March 2015, in a historical decision the Tongan government agreed to ratify the Convention with reservations. Though the signing was to be with reservations, Likiliki saw the move as a positive one which will signify that the government is amenable to making changes.
273:
Article 7 of CEDAW states that āState Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure women,on equal terms with men, the right: (b) "To participate in the formulation of the
260:
Of the 33 seats in the house reserved for Peoples Representatives, only 9 represent any hope of women getting in Parliament as the other 23 seats are assigned and/or can only be held by men. Women still struggle to gain any access to these 9 available seats due to social norms and cultural
157:
Traditional Tongan culture has ancient traditions including a "kin-based stratification", or allocation of power based on age, sexual orientation, and birth order. The Api, or basic order of Tongan society, is based at the root of oldest male control over a family group. This control, or
261:
attitudes. These social norms and cultural attitudes do not come only from the male population, but an attitude of women in Tongan society, which consequently has slowed this current progression of women's participation as a People's Representative in
78:
The population of males and females in the total Tongan population is nearly equal with the total male population at 52,350 male and 52,360 female. By this total population ration data, there is no visible data showing that there is a gender bias for
112:
265:. This is apparent in the overwhelming vote-in of male candidates over female candidates even though women have had voting rights since 1951. The women still tend to vote for a male dominate government within Tonga.
42:
The issue of women's rights in Tonga is not entirely ignored within Tongan culture and government, and reformations have been considered. Women within Tonga have had the right to vote since the late Majesty Queen
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policy (GAD) which was passed and approved by the Tongan Government in 2003, and the Government's Strategic Development Plans (SDP) where clear gender developments are made in strategic development.
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of a "no drop policy" be enacted for all cases of domestic violence pending an investigation, and prosecution if conclusive evidence is found of bodily harm, indecent assault, incest or rape.
115:(CEDAW). CEDAW is considered by many to be an international bill of rights for women, and has aimed to create universal ideals for women's rights and gender equality. In September 2009, the
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leadership, is a responsibility with the family group, but it also gives power over decision making of things such as resource allocation, family labor duties, and discipline.
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39:. Many of the issues of gender inequalities within the Tongan culture are reinforced in the home and complex structures of the cultural family hierarchy.
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have been considered. Violence against women in Tonga has been spotlighted and measures have been taken to better enforce laws protecting women against
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has made recent efforts and commitments in reform and acceptance of some of the rights promoted by CEDAW. CEDAW endorsed convention, the
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594:, other sexual offences, murder and manslaughter and sexual exploitation through people trafficking and smuggling"
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590:: For example, (without limitation), assault, offences endangering life and health, grievous bodily harm,
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369:"Tongan Parliament decides not to ratify CEDAW" (Press Release, 18 September 2009), para 3. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
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95:, Tonga is one of two countries in the Pacific region and one of six countries (other sovereign states:
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483:. Suva, Fiji: Institute of Pacific Studies of the University of the South Pacific. pp. 87ā102.
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amended the constitution allowing this right in 1951. Other reformations and amendments to the
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355:"Human Rights: 8. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women"
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has gone unnoticed, and is accepted by both men and women, and is rarely prosecuted.
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35:, political participation in parliament, and general cultural attitude towards the
317:". United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
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315:"Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
31:. Issues of Women's rights in Tonga include factors of women's land right,
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Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
540:"Nations urge Tonga to give women land rights and improve LGBTQ record"
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Spickard, Paul; Rondilla, Joanne L.; Wright, Debbie Hippolite (2002).
462:. Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. 2006. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
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100:
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24:
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609:. New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse. 17 September 2013
380:"Meet the staff: 'Ofa-ki-Levuka Guttenbeil Likiliki, Director"
357:. United Nations Treaty Collections. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
71:(HDR), Tonga ranked 90th out of 187 countries in terms of the
567:. PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT. 10 March 2012. Archived from
331:"Tonga Country Profile: Human Development Indicators"
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741:
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565:"Tonga launches violence against women initiatives"
509:. Oahu: University of Hawai'i Press. pp. 271-272.
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477:"Tonga: Legal Constraint And Social Potentials"
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363:
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384:Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) Tonga
124:has been an advocate for the ratification of
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120:undertake a 'ratification of convenience.'
111:) in the world which have yet to ratify the
460:"Advancing Women's Representation in Tonga"
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527:"Fact sheet: The right to participation"
238:Women's political participation in Tonga
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406:"Tonga cabinet agrees to ratify CEDAW"
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607:"Tonga passes Family Protection Bill"
181:Convention on the Rights of the Child
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335:United Nations Development Programme
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529:. Unicef. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
427:Vaka'uta, Koro (26 February 2015).
256:Cultural attitudes and social norms
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429:"Tonga set to finally sign CEDAW"
404:Vaka'uta, Koro (10 March 2015).
37:gender inequalities within Tonga
475:Moengangongo, Mosikaka (1986).
673:Federated States of Micronesia
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481:Land Rights of Pacific Women
63:Gender inequalities in Tonga
458:'Ofa, Guttenbeil-Likiliki.
200:Land ownership reformations
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583:Family Protection Act 2013
225:Reform in protecting women
221:was criminalized in 2013.
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875:Women's rights by country
655:Women's rights in Oceania
269:CEDAW and political goals
824:Northern Mariana Islands
153:Kin-based stratification
133:Tongan culture and CEDAW
69:Human Development Report
860:Women's rights in Tonga
789:Cocos (Keeling) Islands
148:Tongan social structure
73:Human Development Index
17:Women's rights in Tonga
276:Gender and Development
215:violence against women
209:Violence against women
162:Family decision making
67:According to the 2011
33:violence against women
870:Human rights in Tonga
767:and other territories
288:Human rights in Tonga
247:Political progression
19:, as compared to the
117:Legislative Assembly
81:sex selective births
431:. Radio New Zealand
408:. Radio New Zealand
187:Women's land rights
49:Tongan Constitution
586:those provisions.
581:Section 29 of the
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839:Wallis and Futuna
784:Clipperton Island
742:Associated states
542:. RNZ. 8 May 2023
515:978-0-824-82619-2
490:978-9-820-20012-8
263:Tongan Parliament
191:Historically the
177:Tongan Government
53:domestic violence
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829:Pitcairn Islands
799:French Polynesia
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708:Papua New Guinea
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546:10 December
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171:Article 12
137:See also:
668:Australia
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683:Kiribati
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435:14 March
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282:See also
834:Tokelau
733:Vanuatu
105:Somalia
809:Hawaii
728:Tuvalu
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723:Tonga
713:Samoa
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693:Nauru
126:CEDAW
101:Sudan
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25:CEDAW
804:Guam
756:Niue
678:Fiji
615:2015
592:rape
588:Note
548:2023
511:ISBN
485:ISBN
437:2015
414:2015
391:2015
342:2020
175:The
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