Outcome FIJ_D_1.1

By 2027, people enjoy and contribute to more accountable, inclusive, resilient and responsive governance systems that promote gender equality, climate security, justice and peace, ensure participation, and protect their human rights. [CF Outcome 4]

Transforming Pacific Governance: Advancing Gender Equality, Climate Security, and Peace Across the Pacific region in 2024, transformative progress toward the UNSDCF Peace Pillar occurred through distinct normative, policy, peace and programmatic processes that strengthened accountable, inclusive, resilient, and responsive governance systems. These initiatives advanced critical Peace Pillar priorities by integrating gender equality into institutional frameworks, embedding climate security considerations in peace processes, enhancing justice system accessibility, and ensuring meaningful participation in governance particularly for traditionally excluded groups. From regional platforms to national institutions, this comprehensive transformation has created sustainable mechanisms for protecting human rights while promoting more equitable and peaceful societies. UN Women Fiji MCO is building gender-responsive governance systems through its regional Governance, Participation in Public Life portfolio anchored by two recently developed joint programming initiatives with UNDP that address complementary aspects of governance reform. The first initiative, developed in partnership with UNDP's Pacific Hub, focuses specifically on advancing women's leadership in governance systems, aiming to create sustainable pathways for women's meaningful participation in decision-making processes. The second initiative, developed in collaboration with UNDP's Samoa office, emphasizes gender-responsive programming, ensuring governance systems effectively respond to the differentiated needs and priorities of all community members. This dual-stream strategy demonstrates UN Women's commitment to both immediate participation gains and long-term systemic change. While still early days, the partnership model, combining UN Women's gender expertise with UNDP's governance experience, provides a robust foundation for advancing inclusive governance reforms that can be adapted and scaled across the Pacific region. Beyond this joint work, regional transformation has been ongoing, evidenced by unprecedented levels of participation and engagement. The 15th Triennial Conference brought together over 300 participants from 22 Pacific Community member countries and territories, while the Beijing+30 review process engaged 38 National Women's Machinery representatives and 19 CSO representatives from 12 Pacific nations - surpassing previous participation levels. The Gender Equality Forum further expanded this momentum, engaging 150 stakeholders, including 14 Pacific representatives, in shaping regional approaches to inclusive governance. Pacific CSOs proved instrumental in ensuring governance systems remain accountable and responsive to community needs through eleven distinct normative, policy and peace processes at global, regional, and national levels. At the global level, four women advocates representing feminist and women-led organizations from Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji demonstrated growing Pacific CSO influence in global forums through their integration into official government delegations at CSW68. The Gender Equality Forum at SIDS4 further showcased CSO engagement through fourteen Pacific representatives shaping the SIDS4 Gender Action Plan. At the regional level, the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Beijing+30 Review engaged 19 Pacific CSO representatives alongside 38 National Women's Machinery members, while the 15th Triennial Conference saw over 300 participants from 22 Pacific Community countries shaping regional priorities. The notable leadership of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement in the Pacific CSO Preparatory Meeting and representation on the Asia Pacific B+30 CSO Steering Committee strengthened regional CSO networks and advocacy capabilities, particularly for peace and security. At the national level, building on this momentum of CSO engagement, systematic changes in institutional practices and protection frameworks strengthened multi-sectoral responses to GBV and enhanced service delivery. In Kiribati, transformative policy reforms emerged through partnerships between CSOs and government agencies. At its heart, AMAK, the national umbrella organization for women's NGOs, played a crucial role in coordinating CSO engagement across the policy reviews. Through AMAK's extensive networks, organizations like the Kiribati Women and Children Support Center, Red Cross Society, Family Health Association, and Nei Mom Uprising—a grassroots CSO empowering young mothers—brought vital community perspectives to the policy development process. The Ministry of Women built upon this foundation of CSO engagement to implement five initiatives that fundamentally reshaped Kiribati's governance systems. These reforms created interconnected changes across justice, protection, and social support sectors. The review of the Policy on the Elimination of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence exemplified an inclusive approach, integrating gender equality objectives and analysing intersecting vulnerabilities affecting women &girls particularly in the context of climate change and security concerns. This transformation extended into institutional practices through coordinated reforms. Family Peace Act review brought together diverse stakeholders including the Kiribati Police Service, Attorney General's Office and CSOs, establishing integrated pathways for women's access to protection services. New police procedures reshaped law enforcement's approach to GBV, embedding survivor autonomy and trauma-informed care into standard practice. The revision of the Kiribati Magistrates' Bench Book further enhanced access to justice by improving court availability and implementing gender-sensitive judicial processes. These changes particularly benefited women in outer islands who had historically faced geographical barriers to accessing legal services. The Development Coordination Committee, comprising Secretaries of all Ministries, ensured effective cross-sectoral coordination and implementation. The Solomon Islands demonstrated how governance systems can become more resilient &responsive to emerging challenges, particularly at the intersection of gender equality and climate security. The development of their second Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan saw women leaders and women-led organizations spearhead the creation of new paradigms for addressing climate security impacts on peace and stability. Drawing on specialized expertise from across government ministries & CSOs, including organizations like the Disabilities Women's Empowerment Association, this process gave space to women to challenge traditional male dominance in security sector decision-making while establishing innovative approaches to understanding and addressing the unique ways climate change affects women in coastal communities. Furthermore, Solomon Islands’ comprehensive CEDAW Legislative Compliance Review, engaged diverse stakeholders, including women-led CSOs. The review saw improvements in compliance rates from 20% to 29% while reducing non-compliance from 51% to 46% demonstrating concrete progress in human rights protection. In Palau, progress toward more inclusive governance manifested through the #Vote4WomenPalau campaign, which successfully championed twelve women candidates and secured five legislative positions, demonstrating how targeted initiatives can transform political participation and representation. This comprehensive transformation aligns with and operationalizes key regional frameworks, including the Revitalized Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration, Pacific Platform for Action, and 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Through UN Women’s financial &technical support for cross-sectoral coordination and systematic responses, these changes are creating governance systems that effectively promote gender equality, ensure inclusive &meaningful participation and protect human rights across the Pacific.

By 2027, people enjoy and contribute to more accountable, inclusive, resilient and responsive governance systems that promote gender equality, climate security, justice and peace, ensure participation, and protect their human rights. [CF Outcome 4]

This outcome is on track. The resolute commitment of political will and renewed focus demonstrated by Pacific Leaders has forged a pathway for the greater involvement and empowerment of women and girls throughout the Pacific, for the full realization of their rights. The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting committed to a revitalized Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration (PLDGED) in November 2023, marking a significant stride towards placing gender equality in climate security, justice, and peace at the forefront of regional priorities. The revitalized PLGED is not a new instrument but rather is an extension of the first PLGED endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2012. This high-level declaration outlines specific policy actions aimed at advancing gender equality across critical domains, including government programmes, policies, decision-making processes, economic empowerment, health, education, and combating violence against women. The revitalized PLGED demands heightened commitment across all levels and calls for forging new transformative partnerships and investments. Moreover, the new PLGED emphasizes the need for stronger leadership to enhance governance, ownership, and accountability of the Declaration. This will be facilitated through mechanisms such as the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meetings, annual Forum Leaders Meetings, and other ministerial gatherings at regional and international platforms. UN Women played a central role in refining the language of the revitalized PLGED during the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting (PIFWLM), through collaboration with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and a Technical Reference Group. This demonstration of political will by Pacific Leaders has reaffirmed UN Women’s support across the Pacific for positive changes toward more accountable, inclusive, resilient, and responsive governance systems. These changes are marked by a commitment to promoting gender equality, justice, and peace while ensuring the protection of human rights and the safe and meaningful participation of women and girls. The transformative initiatives highlighted below show how these commitments are leading to more just, inclusive, and gender-responsive societies: Solomon Islands - Strengthening the Family Protection Act (FPA): In the Solomon Islands, efforts to strengthen the Family Protection Act (FPA) involved extensive consultations reaching more than 200 women, emphasizing diversity and grassroots inclusion. The review of the FPA identified gender disparities in the appointments of local-level Authorized Justices, dismantling discriminatory norms and practices, and exposing systemic barriers in the implementation of the FPA. The outcome of the review was transformative, propelling women into leadership roles. The Ministry of Justice, with UN Women’s support, has developed of a comprehensive policy paper advocating for increased women's representation as Authorised Justices in the local court systems. The paper awaits Cabinet approval and reflects a shift towards an inclusive justice system. Early signs of increased confidence in the system have seen an increase in the number of community members, led by women, utilizing these community justice services. Kiribati - Addressing Gender-Based Violence in High Court: In Kiribati, the Judiciary is committed to addressing gender-based violence, reflected in the willingness to implement new the High Court Civil Procedure Rules pertaining to claims or defence that also involve women and children. UN Women support played a crucial role in this process, contributing to the advancement of the Kiribati National Approach to Eliminating Sexual and Gender-based Violence Policy and National Action Plan. Tonga: Integrating Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality Policy - Tonga has made groundbreaking strides by integrating the Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality Tonga (WEGET) Policy into the national corporate planning process. Joint meetings between relevant departments and UN Women resulted in a comprehensive plan of action, strategically assessing gender-inclusive actions, budgets, and policies within government ministries. Fiji - Fiji Country Gender Assessment (FCGA): The Fiji Government launched the FCGA, the first of its kind in the Pacific region, providing a holistic analysis of gender issues across various sectors of Fiji’s society, including health, economy, education, environment, gender-based violence, social and cultural norms, leadership, and decision-making. More than a compilation of statistics, the FCGA embodies a commitment to the “Leave No One Behind” principle, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. UN Women’s ongoing support includes identifying gaps in data landscapes and institutionalizing the FCGA across government ministries for evidence-based policy dialogues. Fiji- Voluntary National Review (VNR) and SDG 5 Reporting: Furthermore, Fiji took a proactive step by undertaking and submitting a Voluntary National Review (VNR) in 2023. In doing so, Fiji demonstrated its increasing commitment to ensuring progress towards implementing the global agenda, promoting accountability and cooperation and fostering exchanges of best practices and mutual learning. UN Women played a crucial role in the VNR consultation, providing vital data and resources for the SDG 5 section of the report. Samoa - Integrating Gender-Responsive Policies: – Progress has been made in Samoa by integrating gender-responsive policies across various government ministries, led by the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development (MWCSD). Achievements include improved capabilities in gender-responsive budgeting within key ministries, such as Finance, Commerce, Industry, Labour, and Agriculture. The Ministry actively establishes connections between gender-responsive policies and ministerial budgets, using contextualized Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) tools. Samoa: Building a gender-responsive media: Furthermore, a gender-sensitive media environment is emerging in Samoa. Through rigorous capacity building for media personnel and the provision of a Media Training Manual and the Samoan Glossary of Gender Terms, media practitioners are now equipped with essential tools for gender-sensitive reporting. This initiative is actively shaping a media landscape that is inclusive and reflects a heightened awareness and sensitivity towards gender issues, contributing to a more impactful and inclusive media environment. Technical guidance from UN Women continues to support these initiatives for a more comprehensive approach. In 2023, UN Women continued to advance gender-responsive governance through critical intergovernmental processes such as CSW67, COP28, and the High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework. This work involved extensive advocacy in preparatory work, engagements with Governments and coalition building. This support often leverages collaborations with Pacific regional organisations PIFS (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat) and SPC (Pacific Community) and highlights a responsive and adaptive approach to facilitating engagement in transformative processes. Further to this, UN Women took the lead role in crafting confidential reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. These reports were submitted on behalf of the United Nations Country Teams (UNCT). The joint presentation conducted by UN Women in collaboration with the Resident Coordinator’s Office reinforces the commitment to comprehensive reporting and accountability.