Outcome WSM_D_6.1

Global normative and policy frameworks for gender equality and women’s empowerment are implemented in Samoa

Samoa and Cooks Islands are undertaking gender analysis and review for compliance with the CEDAW Convention and its principles. Samoa's civil servants have gained a deeper appreciation of gender and fiscal justice after capacity building in Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB). Four government ministries have analysed their budgetary documents, through a rights-based and gender-responsive lens and put forward GRB recommendations and action points for various stages of their respective ministerial budget cycles. The analysis is assisting in monitoring the Samoa government's compliance with CEDAW and also identifying how CEDAW can be used to set equality-enhancing criteria in budget activities to achieve national priorities and the SDGs. This will contribute towards performing evidence-based financial management which will allow the Samoa Government and its partners to make strategic investments that advance gender-responsive sustainable development at lower transaction costs. In the Cook Islands, government ministries are progressing towards assisting the State to become more effective in preparing towards its CEDAW 4 th periodic reporting. A review of the country's progress from 2028 toward CEDAW compliance has identified gaps and challenges and produced a set of recommendations for the State on how these could be addressed.

Global normative and policy frameworks for gender equality and women’s empowerment are implemented in Samoa

There is significant progress towards to the fulfilment of this outcome. The following policy frameworks are in place in Samoa: National Policy 2021-2031 on: Gender Equality and Rights of Women and Girls; Family Safety Elimination of Family Violence; Inclusive Government; Persons with Disability; and Community Economic Development. UN Women provided technical advice and assistance to the drafting and delivery of these policies. The implementation of these policies will commence in 2022.