The department of Women’s Affairs was established by the government in 1999 and significant advancements have been made in terms of legislation reforms, improving access to education and health, and raising awareness about gender equality, human rights, the importance for women to participate in decision-making at all levels, and on domestic violence. However, areas of concerns remain.

  • Violence against women. The 2007 Tuvalu Demographics and Health Survey (TDHS) reported that 4 in 10 women have been subjected to physical violence by an intimate partner and approximately half of those acts are committed on women aged 25 to 29 (Government of Tuvalu, 2012).

 

  • Limited opportunities for women to earn incomes. The 2007 TDHS reported that 49% of women, compared to 15% of men, were not employed in the 12 months preceding the survey. More women were in the in the lowest wealth quintile. (Government of Tuvalu, 2012) Limited opportunities for women to earn incomes. The 2007 TDHS reported that 49% of women, compared to 15% of men, were not employed in the 12 months preceding the survey. More women were in the in the lowest wealth quintile. (Government of Tuvalu, 2012).

 

  • Limited participation of women in decision-making. While the law provides equal opportunity for women and men to contest elections, there were only two women out of 37 candidates who run for election in 2019 and 1 woman is currently member of the parliament (15 seats). More women now are part of the Falekaupules and the Kaupules. (Government of Tuvalu, 2012) However, despite the recognition that women are the backbone of their community, they have limited opportunity to voice their concerns and fully participate in those local government institutions.

 

  • Gender is not yet mainstreamed across all government programmes. There is limited capacity in lines ministries and central department to generate and analyse gender statistics and use this information in the design and delivery of programmes and services.

VISION

A more protected, secure and prosperous Tuvalu; healthier people who and more engaged in national development and the wellbeing of their community.

MISSION

Our mission is to progress gender equality and social inclusion in all areas of life so that women and men, in all their diversity, participate together in the development of our communities and benefit equally from development outcomes.

  • We want our people to develop their full potential.

  • We want our people to be resilient.

  • We want our people, in all their diversity, to enjoy their human rights and their culture.

  • We want the programmes and services delivered by the government to leave not one behind

 

  1. Increase capacity within all sectors of Government to develop and implement gender-responsive and inclusive policies, programmes, and services.
  2. Improve governance systems by fostering an equal participation of women in decision-making and in leadership positions.
  3. Create equal opportunities for women to earn incomes and be economically secure.
  4. Protect women and girls from all forms of violence.

 

 ROLES

  • We want our people to develop their full potential v We want our people to be resilient v We want our people, in all their diversity, to enjoy their human rights and their culture v We want the programmes and services delivered by the government to leave not one behind

 

  • To support awareness-raising about gender equality and social inclusion, including about policies and laws. It involves producing communication material, running campaigns, hosting forums, partnering with civil society organisations in delivering programs in the communities.

 

  • To develop technical capacity to mainstream gender and address critical gender issues. It involves providing technical assistance to government organisations in identifying entry points and developing strategies for mainstreaming gender and social inclusion in the design, planning, allocation of resources, implementation of programs and services, and in monitoring processes; develop guidelines and tools for mainstreaming gender and social inclusion in particular sectors or processes; provide briefs on gender and inclusion perspectives in the context of specific sector or tasks; and build the capacity of public servants in different aspects of gender mainstreaming and social inclusion through training initiatives, coaching and mentoring. Capacity development of civil society organisations is also part of GAD role to enhance their capacity to inform policy development, program design, and service delivered of the government and local government.

 

  • To establish standards and support systems and mechanisms for mainstreaming gender and social inclusion. It includes supporting coordination among stakeholders, the integration of gender mainstreaming in administrative processes and the human resources management of the government so that gender and social inclusion are systematically mainstreamed. GAD is also responsible to support the development of standards, in terms of language (in Tuvaluan language), delivery of awareness raising and capacity building initiatives, and in developing protocols (e.g. in services to victims of domestic violence). This works also involved reviewing and monitoring the implementation of the National Gender Equality Policy and supporting gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in the design of the Te Kakeega IV and its monitoring.

 

  • To report about progress on gender equality to the government, in regional and international bodies and forums. It includes producing and submitting CEDAW report, report against the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration, representation of Tuvalu to the Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the annual meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women.

MANDATE

  • The Gender Affairs Department (GAD) is the government mechanism to support all departments to address gender issues through their policies, programs and services – ensuring that they address the respective needs and priorities of both women and men, the causes of gender gaps or inequalities and exclusion, and fulfil the human rights of all people in all their diversities. GAD will also support the government, local government, civil society organisations, and the private sector in implementing actions for ensuring women’s equal participation in decision-making and leadership positions, support equal opportunities to earn incomes and be economically secured, and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.